Danielle Kelly has always fought to overcome the odds. More often than not in her career, the American superstar has succeeded – but even in claiming the ONE women’s atomweight submission grappling world championship, she feels she hasn’t got her flowers.
Kelly will look to solidify her standing atop the ever-growing division in her first defense of the crown when she meets another superstar grappler in Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Saturday, August 3, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
The Silver Fox BJJ standout is unbeaten across four battles in ONE Championship. Despite that, she feels she’s regularly overlooked. Against Bastos, Kelly senses she’s once again not the betting favourite. But she plans to use that as motivation.
“I just don’t think I get enough credit. I’m also a huge underdog, which I expected because she wins a lot of stuff at the lower divisions,” she said.
“I think I’m going to be overlooked, and I can’t wait to prove people wrong.”
There is a noticeable shift in mentality when an athlete goes from contender to world champion, and Kelly feels she’s done all the necessary work to remain queen on 3rd August.
The 28-year-old wants to solidify herself as a legend in ONE Championship’s submission grappling realm against Bastos. But to get there, she must be constantly vigilant of everything her Brazilian foe can throw at her to gain victory.
Far from being intimidated by the gravity of her upcoming task, Kelly believes she already has Bastos figured out.
“I think that in this match, I think she’s going to be trying to attack my back. I think she’s going to try to rush something like a leg lock because a lot of people just like doing leg locks with me – which I hope so because I like to counter,” she said.
“I want to prove that I’m the best 115-pound grappler by beating Mayssa Bastos. I want to be the best 115 grappler of all time. That’s my goal. And I think having that mindset has definitely made me a different person.”
