“It’s going to help me grow” - Mayssa Bastos believes Danielle Kelly showdown will help her level up
Win or lose, Mayssa Bastos believes her showdown with Danielle Kelly will help level up her game. In a matter of hours, the 115-win veteran will make her second appearance inside the Circle as ONE Championship once again descends upon the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand for ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video.
In one of the most anticipated bouts of the evening, Bastos will challenge reigning ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion Danielle Kelly, in what will be the Silver Fox BJJ star's first title defense.
Speaking with Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview ahead of their highly anticipated title tilt, Mayssa Bastos sees her clash with Kelly as a good challenge that will only serve to help her grow as a grappler—no matter the result.
"Yeah, for sure," Bastos said. "Like I feel it’s a good challenge and it’s going to help me grow and yeah, I’m just really excited for the challenge."
Mayssa Bastos remembers feeling an immediate connection to BJJ
Though she's only 26 years old, Mayssa Bastos is one of the most accomplished female grapplers in the sport today.
Competing at some of the biggest tournaments around the world, she has topped the podium at the IBJJF Pans, European, and World Championships on more than one occasion. She also came in first place at the WNO Championship in 2021 and was the second-ranked Female Athlete of the Year by UAEJJF.
Looking back on the early days of her career, Bastos remembers feeling a connection to the sport from the first moment she stepped on the mat.
"The connection was right away," Bastos told ONE. "I liked it since the first time I stepped on the mat and wanted to do it every day. In a short period, I already knew what I wanted. I wanted to be a black belt and world champion. It was very fast in my head of wanting to pursue a career in jiu-jitsu."
Will Bastos add another major accomplishment to her resume inside the Mecca of Muay Thai, or will Danielle Kelly continue her dominant run under the ONE Championship banner?
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.