Mayssa Bastos has accomplished great things in her grappling career, which is not all that surprising given her lifelong passion for the sport.

On Friday, August 2, the Brazilian star is set to compete for arguably the most prestigious prize of her career when she challenges Danielle Kelly for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Mayssa Bastos wanted to excel in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Looking back at the beginning of her journey in a recent interview with ONE, Bastos recalled how she was a shy girl who found her place in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“The connection was right away. I liked it since the first time I stepped on the mat and wanted to do it every day,” she said.  

“In a short period, I already knew what I wanted. I wanted to be a black belt and a World Champion. It was very fast in my head of wanting to pursue a career in jiu-jitsu.”

The decision to take up BJJ turned out to be a great one for Bastos, as she has won eight IBJJF World Titles in her career and has a professional record of 115-12.

The 26-year-old powerhouse debuted in ONE Championship in dominant fashion earlier this year. She took on Japan’s Kanae Yamada at ONE Fight Night 20 and showcased her skills to the world en route to a comfortable unanimous decision win.

Bastos has only one love: BJJ

Bastos’ achievements are a direct result of her tireless work ethic and dedication to be the best at her craft since day one. Ahead of her World Title showdown with Kelly at ONE Night Fight 24, she reflected on the level of commitment she put in during the early days.

“Since I started, I was training a lot. I spent a lot of time at the gym and was always competing. I’ve lived only for jiu-jitsu since I was little,” Bastos said. 

“On weekends in Brazil, there were always a lot of jiu-jitsu competitions, and there was a weekend when I participated in two competitions on the same day. I kept that pace of competition until the black belt, and it helped me grow as an athlete.”