Danielle Kelly, a newly minted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and prominent grappler, is ready for her next challenge – competing in the ONE Championship Circle.
While she will begin her ONE tenure with submission grappling bouts, the jiu-jitsu treasure will later debut in MMA. This strategy takes Kelly from her home in Philadelphia to Evolve MMA in Singapore, where she can prepare with many of ONE Championship’s superstars.
Kelly said on Instagram:
“I can’t put into words how much this means to me. I try my best to be the best I can be, whether that’s on or off the mats. I love what ONE represents… Thank you [Chatri Sityodtong] for this opportunity, and am looking forward to doing great things with ONE.”
The American athlete has remained exceptionally active since receiving her black belt from highly regarded coach and Renzo Gracie black belt Karel “Silver Fox” Pravec.
She has defeated some of the world’s best grapplers, including established fighters like Roxanne Modafferi and Carla Esparza.
She has also been praised for her incredible and quick finishes and drawn-out battles that ended in triumphant victories. Her signing was well-deserved after a fantastic run of competition, and it highlights the gains and attention grappling athletes have received in recent years.
Kelly joins the ranks of other notable jiu-jitsu competitors, including Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, and Andre Galvao. The strawweight will be a dangerous and formidable opponent for anyone in her division, whether a grappling or mixed martial arts bout.
According to the Chairman and CEO of ONE, Chatri Sityodtong, Kelly is the next big rising star in combat sports, specifically in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Sityodtong stated on his social media account:
“[Kelly] is an extraordinary talent with dominant finishing abilities and a real killer instinct. She also has a touching life story of adversity and triumph that will inspire the world. Equally important, Danielle is a wonderful human being with a heart of gold.”
Although there is no set date for Kelly’s ONE Championship debut, more information about her upcoming promotional appearances will be made available in the near future.
In the meantime, watch ONE: FULL CIRCLE live on Disney+ Hotstar and Star Sports Select 1 beginning with the lead card at 3:30 p.m. India Standard Time (IST) on Friday, 25 February. The main card broadcasts live on Disney+ Hotstar and Star Sports Select 1 at 6 p.m. IST.
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