Danielle Kelly fully focused on no-gi BJJ since joining ONE Championship
To realize her world title dreams under ONE Championship, Danielle Kelly said she made sure to focus, for now, on no-gi BJJ, which is the style in effect for submission grappling in the promotion.
Her efforts have paid dividends as apart from staying undefeated since making her promotional debut in 2022, she is now the reigning atomweight grappling queen.
The 27-year-old Silver Fox BJJ standout spoke about her no gi efforts in ONE in an interview with the Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu podcast, which was uploaded on July 28 and in line with her scheduled first title defense this week.
Danielle Kelly said:
"If I have to teach in it, I'll train in it, but no not really, unless like the competition classes for gi and no gi, yeah, I'll throw it on. But my job's no gi. So I just do no gi."
Watch the full interview below:
While gi and no-gi have their similarities in techniques, they differ as far as tactics, with no gi relying more on wrestling-based grips as well as body mechanics and hand positioning, among others, to notch a win.
No gi also does not require any uniform like in gi competitions.
Danielle Kelly showcases shored-up no-gi game in first title defense
Danielle Kelly will certainly look to flex her shored-up no-gi BJJ game when she makes her first defense of the ONE atomweight submission grappling world title on August 2 at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs Balart on Prime Video in Bangkok, Thailand.
She will stake it against BJJ black belt Mayssa Bastos of Brazil in the event happening at the famed Lumpinee Stadium and airing live and for free at U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Danielle Kelly became ONE atomweight submission grappling queen in September last year after she defeated Cambodian-American fighter Jessa Khan, who is a teammate of Bastos at Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy, by unanimous decision.
Looking to make it a short reign for her is Bastos, a nine-time IBJJF world champion who wants to take her career to a whole new level by becoming a ONE champion. She made her promotional debut back in March, winning by unanimous decision over Kanae Yamada of Japan.