Riding a three-fight win streak, Danielle Kelly earned the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Championship last year by defeating Jessa Khan. Now, she prepares for her first title defense against Brazil’s Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart. The event airs on August 2nd primetime from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok.

Despite past victories cementing her champion status, Danielle Kelly remains hungry to prove herself once more, vowing to do just that in her recent interview ahead of the upcoming bout.

Danielle Kelly’s determination ahead of world title defense

Danielle Kelly is riding a three-fight win within the promotion, while her opponent, Mayssa Bastos, has only had one fight in the world’s largest martial arts organization so far. However, Bastos has far more experience outside the promotion, reflected in her impressive 115-win record. 

Despite the experience gap, Danielle Kelly, in her recent interview with ONE Championship, welcomes the challenge and isn’t afraid to face any obstacle. She said, “ Settling for less is for the weak. I am not a weak person, and I can’t wait to prove that against Mayssa Bastos.” This statement shows that the Philadelphia native is laser-focused on what she wants to achieve.

However, Kelly isn’t the only one with a plan. Her opponent, Mayssa Bastos, also has her sights on dethroning Danielle Kelly in their upcoming co-main event pairing at ONE Fight Night 24.

Mayssa Bastos seeks the ultimate strategy to dethrone Danielle Kelly

Mayssa Bastos made her debut in 2024 against the Japanese standout Kanae Yamada at ONE Fight Night 20, securing a win via submission. This victory, together with her body of work in the grappling world, propelled her to a title shot against Danielle Kelly at ONE Fight Night 24. Outside the promotion, the Brazilian competitor has been dominant, amassing a near-perfect record with wins in nearly every fight in her weight class.

In a recent interview with ONE Championship, Mayssa Bastos offered a glimpse into her strategy. ‘I think the fight will end in submission, at least that will be my goal from start to finish,” she declared. “I don’t know where the submission will come from, but I give you the certainty of seeking control of the fight until the submission.”

Now, all eyes are on Danielle Kelly. It will be intriguing to see if she can maintain her winning streak and defend her ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title against Mayssa Bastos in their upcoming bout at ONE Fight Night 24. Stay tuned for further updates.