Danielle Kelly

Danielle Kelly‘s journey to grappling stardom has been nothing short of inspirational.

Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kelly suffered from bullying in her early school days. But at age 10, she decided to embrace the world of martial arts to overcome her tormentors — and that’s when she found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The American star studied under the wings of legendary coach Karel Pravec at Silver Fox BJJ. She took to “the gentle art” and quickly ascended through the ranks. Fourteen years later, at age 24, she earned her black belt.

Kelly then began to defeat athletes in grappling competitions like Who’s Number One, the Eddie Bravo Invitational, and the ADCC Trials. She became renowned for her diverse repertoire of submissions, impeccable takedowns, and unparalleled endurance. 

Then in February 2022, Kelly signed with ONE Championship. Just a month later, she made her promotional debut against former ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title challenger Mei Yamaguchi in the promotion’s first-ever women’s submission grappling bout.

Kelly then achieved her dream of becoming the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion in September 2023 at ONE Fight Night 14 on Prime Video after defeating fierce rival Jessa Khan by unanimous decision to claim the crown. 

Though she lost the gold in August 2024, the American superstar is determined to reclaim it and cement her legacy as an all-time great in ONE Championship.