Britain's latest UFC star Paul Kelly says he expects his next opponent the Octagon to be an American.

Kelly exploded onto the UFC scene at UFC 80 in Newcastle, earning the Fight of the Night bonus for a three-round war with Paul Taylor which he won by a unanimous points win.

And now Kelly, who trains with Michael Bisping believes he close to being handed his first test against an American opponent.

"I’ve no clue when my next fight is yet but I think the time has come for them to throw me in against an American," Kelly told Setanta Sports.

"I’ve met Dana White a few times, Mike Bisping trains in America sometimes and usually when he goes out there I’m with him. I’ve spoken to Dana and the other UFC staff for while, but they’ve never seen me fight.

"Dana said it was a cracking fight and he told me I’m making inroads."

Kelly has already been tipped by Bisping to make a name for himself in the MMA world, and now he is backing it up himself in The Octagon.

The 27-year-old says his inspiration comes from Wanderlei Silva.

"I like to use my ground and pound, and as you saw against Taylor I try and use my elbows.

"I love the scrambling fights, I’d say I’m a bit like Wanderlei Silva - I like him as a fighter, you can expect us both to stand there and bang out the punches.

"Taylor’s a nice lad, I never have grudge matches with my opponents, I shake their hand before the fight, we’ll punch each other’s faces in and then I’ll ask if their ok after.

"At the end of the day, it’s a job, we’re all gentlemen, you get the odd person who wants to make it bigger, but mainly we all get on.

"If two people go in to have a good fight and there’s no animosity I think it makes for a better fight."