Danielle Kelly says uncertainty and doubt are part and parcel of being a martial artist: “I kind of have to deal with it”
Even as the face of women's BJJ, ONE world champion Danielle Kelly often struggles with the uncertainty and the doubts that come with being a martial artist.
Nearly a year removed from her incredible performance against Jessa Khan to win the ONE atomweight submission grappling world championship, the Silver Fox BJJ star will return to the Circle for a title clash with one of the sport's most accomplished athletes—Mayssa Bastos.
The two women will square off as a part of the promotion's stacked ONE Fight Night 24 card, emanating from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on Friday, August 2.
Appearing on the Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu podcast ahead of her highly anticipated return, Danielle Kelly spoke about the doubts that often creep into her mind before a big fight, saying:
"These things [uncertainty and doubts] kind of come with it [being a martial artist], unfortunately. So it's just something that, you know, I kind of have to deal with it all the time."
Danielle Kelly faces another tough challenge against an eight-time BJJ champion
Thus far, Kelly is undefeated in her ONE Championship career, besting Mariia Molchanova, Ayaka Miura, and the aforementioned Jessa Khan in her last three outings. But as impressive as Kelly has looked since making her promotional debut in 2022, she has never faced an opponent as experienced as Mayssa Bastos.
Already scoring a win on martial arts' biggest global stage, besting Kanae Yamada at ONE Fight Night 20, Bastos is a 115-win veteran and an eight-time BJJ world champion, topping the podium at the IBJJF Worlds in 2019 and 2021-2024.
If Bastos can bag a win over Kelly, he'll add another massive accomplishment to her resume, becoming the second-ever ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion and taking Kelly's 'O' in the process.
ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 24 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 2.