How Brit UFC star went from fights in Las Vegas to 13 years in prison after gangland drugs bust

A FORMER UFC star who once fought in Las Vegas but was later jailed for selling heroin to gangs is now back behind bars.

Paul Kelly fought at the the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas and mixed with big names from the fight game and show business.

InstagramA still of Paul Kelly socialising with two women in an apartment[/caption]

GettyPaul Kelly poses for a portrait backstage after defeating TJ O’Brien at UFC 123 on November 20, 2010 in Auburn Hills, Michigan.[/caption]

GettyPaul Kelly weighs in at 155 lbs at the UFC 126 weigh-in at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on February 4, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada[/caption]

At the height of his career Kelly fought big names such as Dennis Silver, Matt Veach, Jacob Volkmann, TJ O’Brien and Donnald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.

Fighting alongside Michael Bisping and A Team star Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Kelly sold himself as a fearless scrapper from the mean streets of Liverpool.

After his loss to Jackson Kelly was cut from the UFC and his career went into decline.

Kelly became sucked in to Liverpool’s broiling gangland and was jailed for supplying high quality heroin after his UFC career ended.

Today Kelly, 38, is back inside after an X-rated video of him was posted on social media. The footage showed him having sex with two women in an apartment.

The shocking footage which featured explicit sex acts has since been removed from the internet.

Police and the probation service confirmed that Kelly had been recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence.

The authorities have declined to reveal the specific reason for Kelly’s recall.

The former welterweight prodigy was handed a 13 year prison sentence following a trial in 2013.

The court heard how Kelly and childhood pal Christopher McGirr had been supplying heroin to criminals in the Kirkby area of the city.

The men were at the centre of a massive police surveillance operation which targeted a violent street gang known as the Croxteth Young Guns (CYG).

The CYG shot rivals in the street, torched homes and used military grade grenades.

In one devastating attack the gang set fire to a house as a young mum slept upstairs with her baby. Neighbours rescued the family from the blaze.

The CYG gang was later jailed for over 100 years. Kelly fell into drug dealing after his contract with the UFC ended following a string of losses.

Jailing the former fighter Judge Mark Brown said: “You were in business with Mr McGirr supplying heroin to other dealers.

“You are an individual who has travelled widely in the course of MMA and as such would have contacts abroad.

“It is significant that the seizures involved large amounts of import quality heroin.

“In my judgement you decided to supply Class A drugs when your contract with UFC was terminated.

“You obviously enjoyed the high life and saw selling heroin as an easy way to make money.”

Kelly was released from prison on licence before lock down and set up a health food restaurant in the Bootle area of the city.

He told the Liverpool Echo that he was determined to turn his life around and become a financial success.

News of Kelly’s recall to prison was broken by former criminal Darren Gee, who hosts a popular social media channel focused on gangs.

A police spokesman said to The Sun: ” We can confirm that Paul Kelly, 38, has been arrested on a prison recall. Kelly, of Stanley Road, Bootle, was arrested by officers in Bootle on Wednesday 22 February after breaching the conditions of his licence.”

A Probation Service spokesperson said:“Protecting the public is our number one priority, so when offenders breach the conditions of their release we do not hesitate to return them to custody.”

Paul Kelly of Liverpool, England enters the arena at the UFC Live on Versus 2 at the San Diego Sports Arena on August 1, 2010 in San Diego, CaliforniaGetty Images

Merseyside PolicePolice mugshot of Paul Kelly after he was jailed for 13 years in relation to a heroin plot[/caption]

Merseyside PoliceAnthony Jewell lead a notorious Liverpool street gang known as the Croxeth Young Guns[/caption]