The early weight cut might have done in Edward Kelly during his unanimous-decision loss to Emilio Urrutia of the US in ONE: Quest for Greatness held in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.

Kelly was able to dominate Urrutia in striking early in the match, but he noticeably lost steam. Later, the American featherweight imposed his will, grappling to the ground the weakening Pinoy.

“Kasi nagkamali siya sa pag-cut ng weight. Napaaga,” explained Kelly's coach, Mark Sangiao of Team Lakay. “Kaya na-burn out siya.”

In the final seconds of the match, Urrutia outhit an exhausted Kelly to secure the decision. The loss snapped Kelly’s 3-fight win streak.

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Sangiao said Kelly was way below the 154-pound limit even before the weigh-in. “Napapansin ko na sa training lumalambot siya. Sabi niya, bawi na lang siya after ng weigh-in. Maaga kasing nag-cut ng weight,” he said.

Sangiao said Kelly has already learned his lesson, adding that they plan to maintain Kelly’s weight so he will get used to it even before his next bout.

“Sabi ko nga, hangga't maaga pa, ngayon I-maintain na lang niya ang weight na iyan,” he said.

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