Australia's Dan Kelly wins his round against Chris Camozzi of USA in the UFC at Rod Laver arena in Melbourne. Sunday Nov. 27 2016. Picture David Crosling

After all, not many fighters are in career-best form at 39.

“Look, the fact that I don’t put any colour in my hair doesn’t help” said the Victorian.

“There’s a bit more salt than pepper in my beard. Some people make a big deal out of it but I don’t really care, couldn’t care less.

He might not care, but given he’s ripped off an unlikely three-fight winning streak, owns an impressive 5-1 record in the UFC and will be taking on a former champion in Rashad Evans on Sunday (AEDT), the people are starting to take notice.

Because MMA is supposed to be for the young fellas. It’s supposed to be dominated by super athletes that are so fast, so strong and so powerful they make the rest of us look like a different species.

Kelly has an impressive 5-1 record in the UFC.Source:News Corp Australia

Kelly’s fanbase is growing with each improbable win and he’s dubbed them #DadsArmy.

“It’s indicative and a good example of what I am,” Kelly says.

“I’m a dad. I’m a dad in a sport that’s meant to be a young man’s game and I’m doing OK at the moment.”

Kelly doesn’t have the rippling muscles or the garish tough stamps, but there’s a mean streak lurking under his easygoing manner.

He proved that in his decorated career as a judoka, where he represented Australia at four-straight Olympics from 2000 to 2012.

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Those judo skills form the base of his unorthodox style, but everything else comes the hard way.

“Being experienced in competition helps, but I’m not a fast learner.

“I’m not gifted technically, I’m not super co-ordinated, any improvements I make in the skill set I have is through hard work and the great patience of my coaches.

“I have a judo background and I came to striking late. I do what I can with what my body allows me to.

“Suddenly everyone wants to box like Conor McGregor, everyone wants to have head movement like Cody Garbrandt or Dominick Cruz, they see this, they see that, but you’ve got to find the right fit for you and fight the way that’s going to be best for you. It doesn’t matter what other people do.”

Kelly makes do with the skills he has.Source:News Corp Australia

The bout with Evans will be the most high-profile of Kelly’s career and another improbable victory will see Kelly enter the middleweight rankings for the first time in his career.

His career thus far couldn’t be more different than Evans’, who has been in the UFC since 2005 and has fought a who’s who at 205 pounds (92.98 kgs)

When Evans knocked out Chuck Liddell to take the light-heavyweight title in 2008, Kelly had just one win to his name — a 2006 TKO victory via the dubious method of “throwing opponent out of the ring”.

But Kelly, who always prefers to be the underdog, fancies his chances and after the way he’s beaten the odds recently you’d be a damn fool to count him out.

“He’s got good boxing, he’s fast and explosive. He’s got excellent wrestling. I think his first cut down (to middleweight) will be difficult,” he said.

“I think I match up OK with him, if I can get him in the clinch and impose the game I want to I’ll be fine.”

Originally published as Dad’s home: The unlikely rise of Dan Kelly