Like many of us, ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion Danielle Kelly found unwavering support from her parents to pursue her passions. They were part of her journey early on in her life and were instrumental in helping her become who she is today. However, a profound ache settled in when they were no longer there to witness her greatest triumphs.

Now, all set to face Mayssa Bastos in an upcoming fight scheduled for August, Kelly recently shared an emotional message on social media about her long journey in BJJ and the ONE Championship career. She spoke about facing it alone for almost a decade after losing her parents.

Danielle Kelly’s heartfelt note on her journey

American submission grappler Danielle Kelly has carved out a two-year career in ONE Championship. Last September, she etched her name in history by defeating Jessa Khan to become the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion. Before she defended her prestigious belt for the first time at ONE Fight Night 24 in August, Danielle Kelly reflected on her incredible journey through an Instagram post.

She wrote, “12 years without my dad 8 years without my mom. Being in a sport young is tough without the support of your parents. Kelly continues, I stick by it because of my dad who got me into it and I know he’d be proud of me today. I have more to fight than my opponents. No sad stories, just motivated. @onechampionship“

Danielle Kelly’s story powerfully illustrates how far someone can come while staying grounded and honoring their roots. It also sheds light on the importance of parental support. Kelly has spoken about her father’s crucial role in her grappling journey, making it clear what a difference supportive parents can make.

Kelly’s combat sports inspiration

Danielle Kelly’s journey to becoming a world-class grappler wasn’t easy. As she recalled, jiu-jitsu and training became more than just a sport; it was an escape from the challenges she faced at home growing up with sick parents. However, the loss of her parents fueled her motivation in a surprising way.

Kelly reflected as quoted by ONE’s official wesbite, “I think looking back at my old matches, I was totally different. I’m doing this, and I’m here for a reason. Doing this for my parents, and it’s really motivating. Unfortunately, they’re not here, so my motivation just kind of goes towards showing them what they’ve done for me, and I can prove myself, and improve over time.”

Now a renowned black belt competitor, Kelly’s dominance in the submission grappling world is undeniable. She boasts an impressive three-fight win streak since her debut in the world’s largest martial arts organization and has established herself as one of the faces of their submission grappling division. 

Her next challenge is defending her title against Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24. Can Kelly maintain her reign? Share your thoughts in the comments below.