“I wasn't even thinking” - Danielle Kelly shot "the cleanest takedown ever" against a bully in school
Reigning and undisputed ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world champion Danielle Kelly of the United States recalls a time that she once landed "the cleanest takedown ever" against a girl who bullied her in school growing up.
Kelly said in a recent guest appearance on The Few Will Hunt show:
"It was always the girls who were older than me that wanted to pick on me. One day, I was walking in the hallway, I was in eighth grade. She was in ninth grade. And she shoves me with her shoulder and her backpack. So I think she was trying to make a point...she was like someone who probably wanted to try to show off."
Kelly added:
"She shoves me with her shoulder. I turned around, and my instinct, I wasn't even thinking, I just shot level change, shot double leg, the cleanest takedown ever...and then once I took her down, she started flaring her legs like crazy, because she didn't know what she was doing...I just started probably hitting her on the back of her head. I don't know, my dad told me to stick up for myself. So that's what I did."
With the support of her parents, Kelly successfully thwarted the bully's attack and defended herself.
Today, Kelly is one of the most dangerous grapplers in the world, and she gets to prove it again next month.
Danielle Kelly to defend her atomweight gold against tough Brazilian Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video
These days, Danielle Kelly only faces opponents who are worthy of standing across from her in the ring. And she will face her toughest test yet in ONE Championship in her next world title defense.
Kelly is set to defend her ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world title against Brazil's Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video.
The event broadcasts live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Aug. 2.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action of ONE Fight Night 24 live and absolutely free on Amazon Prime Video.