"She's obviously really good" - Danielle Kelly has full respect for multi-time BJJ world champion Mayssa Bastos
Danielle Kelly believes she'd be put to the test against nine-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Mayssa Bastos.
The Silver Fox BJJ affiliate meets the Brazilian veteran in her first ONE atomweight submission grappling world title defense that will be part of a loaded ONE Fight Night 24 this Friday, August 2.
Emanating live from the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this will mark Kelly's fifth appearance and quite easily her toughest one yet on the global stage.
As such, Danielle Kelly has gone the extra mile to study her rival's game while perfecting her own before their scrap.
Speaking to Sportskeeda MMA, the Philadelphia native sang praise for Bastos' arsenal and what she must look out for in Bangkok:
"She's obviously really good at what she does, she has a really good guard, and I'm really curious to see like how her standup is just basing it off her last match. She pulled guard, and that's kind of what I'm expecting for this match."
Kelly vs Bastos will be one of two world title matchups at ONE Fight Night 24 this week.
At the top of the bill, No.1-ranked Jarred Brooks and No.3-ranked Gustavo Balart meet for the ONE interim strawweight MMA world title.
North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can catch the entire card live in U.S. primetime for free.
Watch the full interview here:
Danielle Kelly wants Mayssa Bastos to bring the fight to her
Though she typically floors her foot through the gas pedal in search of a submission, Danielle Kelly wouldn't mind relaxing just for a split second to read her rival's moves come fight night.
In turn, that would allow her to focus on her counters – an area that she has put extra emphasis on ahead of her first ONE atomweight submission grappling world title defense.
Speaking to ONE separately, the 28-year-old offered:
"I'm hoping she tries to attack me, and maybe she'll go for a leg lock. I'm excited. I want her to try to attack me. I'm working on my wrestling, working on my guard stuff. I'm working on defense, counters, everything."