Chris Kelades (photo via Twitter / @keladesmma)

By Kelsey Mowatt

The oddsmakers have Chris Kelades as the underdog, heading into his scrap with Sergio Pettis, but the rugged vet has a clear vision of how he can defeat the rising flyweight.

Kelades and Pettis have been booked to fight at UFC 197 tomorrow night, which will go down in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since Kelades joined the UFC in 2014, the Nova Scotia fighter has drawn praise for the durability and conditioning he’s showcased. It was these qualities in particular, which helped him earn decision wins over Patrick Holohan  and more recently, Chris Beal.

The Nova Scotia fighter appeared on Full Contact Fighter Radio recently, and while discussing how his conditioning and pressure game will play into his UFC 197 bout, Kelades (9-2) stated:

“Compared to me he’s definitely going to fade,” said Kelades, who has gone 2-1 in the UFC to date.. “I think that’s how it is with most fighters. It’s that I just keep a pace, and cardio is big for me, just the grind. So I mean, whether it’s standing, or whether it’s grinding and the wrestling, it doesn’t matter, I just feel like I have more juice in tank all the time.”

“I mean my last fight with Chris Beal was kind of a gritty fight,” added the 35 year-old. “I couldn’t get the takedowns, and it was a little sloppy on my behalf as far as being able to get it to the ground. But, he’s a super athletic guy and I had to kind of gut it out and push forward, and throw punches. So, if that’s what I have to do for this fight, then, that’s what I’ll do as well. But, trying to keep up with me, I think is going to be a tough task for most people.”

The 22 year-old Pettis (13-2), who holds a 4-2 record in the Octagon, is coming off a UD win over Chris Cariaso in October.

UFC 197 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Jon Jones will battle Ovince Saint Preux for the interim light-heavyweight title.