“I don’t want to mess up” - Danielle Kelly planning meticulous and careful approach against Mayssa Bastos
Danielle Kelly expects her upcoming clash with Brazilian jiu-jitsu icon Mayssa Bastos to be a technical battle between two of the world's best.
Emanating from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Kelly will put her ONE atomweight submission grappling world championship on the line when she meets Bastos, a nine-time BJJ world champion determined to add another accolade to her already impressive resume.
Speaking with Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview, Kelly believes that their highly anticipated title tilt at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video will be a meticulous masterclass that should bring plenty of excitement for fans inside the Mecca of Muay Thai and those watching around the world.
"I think it's going to be a technical match, you know. Hopefully, it’s a fun match. I can't really guarantee anything because I don't want to mess up. So I’m looking forward to defending my belt and I'm going to win."
Watch the full interview below:
It will be Danielle Kelly's first time defending the title since claiming it with a big win over Jessa Khan at ONE Fight Night 14.
Mayssa Bastos is fighting for legacy and ONE gold against Danielle Kelly
Though Mayssa Bastos may not be a familiar name to ONE Championship fans, she is well-respected among the BJJ community as one of the most experienced and successful grapplers in the sport today.
At just 26 years old, Mayssa Bastos has an incredible 115 career wins and has topped the podium at some of the biggest jiu-jitsu tournaments on the planet, including the IBJJF European, Pans, and World Championships.
A win over Danielle Kelly on martial arts' biggest stage would not only be a massive feather in her cap, it would also make her arguably the best pound-for-pound female in the sport today.
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.