“I don’t think it’s a robbery” - Mayssa Bastos responds to naysayers following unanimous decision over Danielle Kelly
Mayssa Bastos does not agree with the naysayers online who claim her win over Danielle Kelly was a "robbery."
Bastos scored the biggest win of her BJJ career in the ONE Fight Night 24 co-main event, securing a unanimous decision victory over Kelly to claim the ONE atomweight submission grappling world championship. With the win, Bastos is just the second woman to hold the coveted crown.
Unfortunately, her victory came with a healthy dose of commentary. Before the belt was even wrapped around her waist, fight fans online were crying foul, claiming that Kelly had done enough to earn the W and retain her title.
Speaking with Sportskeeda MMA following ONE Championship's latest Amazon Prime Video offering, Bastos disputed the notion that Kelly was robbed of her 26 pounds of gold, saying:
"If all the [judges] gave it to me, I don't think it's a robbery."
Mayssa Bastos' aggressive game plan leads to ONE Championship gold
Bastos vs. Kelly was an entertaining back-and-forth battle that saw the former champ secure an early catch. After that, it appeared as though Kelly was on her way to another successful title defense. However, Bastos turned the tables in the final minute and evened things up, leaving judges to determine who the more aggressive of the two combatants was throughout the 10-minute affair.
In the end, Bastos' work from the bottom was enough to land her the victory, but with a few more seconds on the clock, the eight-time BJJ world champion believes she could have made Kelly tap out.
"I feel like my last catch was the best catch of the match," Bastos said in a post-fight interview. "So I feel like if we maybe had a little bit more time, I would [have been] able to [finish her]."
Given the close nature of the contest and the ensuing controversy, do you want to see Mayssa Bastos and Danielle Kelly run it back?
If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE Fight Night 24 replay on demand via Amazon Prime Video.