‘I Knew That I Could Finish Her’ – Helena Crevar Reflects On Impressive ONE Debut Against Teshya Noelani Alo
After years of dominating the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu circuit, Helena Crevar finally brought her prodigious talents to the world’s largest martial arts organization, and all eyes were transfixed on the teenage sensation.
The 18-year-old phenom exceeded every expectation at ONE Fight Night 39: Rambolek vs. Dayakaev this past Saturday, January 24, in Bangkok, Thailand, proving why she’s widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound female grapplers on the planet.
The 2025 IBJJF World Champion and youngest podium finisher in ADCC history blended fundamental excellence with modern innovation. She submitted Teshya Noelani Alo with a slick Estima Lock just 100 seconds into their openweight submission grappling showdown at Lumpinee Stadium.
Performing on ONE Championship’s first U.S. primetime event of 2026, the Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu standout displayed zero nerves, carrying herself with the composure of a seasoned veteran.
Speaking to ONE, Crevar reflected on the milestone moment:
“It was a great experience. I won the match by submission. Everything really ran smoothly throughout the week with the schedule and everything. So, I’m really happy with my debut.
“No pressure, really. I’ve been competing for almost 10 years now. I like to stay very calm before my matches, and I feel like the last year or two, I’ve really not been getting nervous, just excited to get on the mats.”
The victory, however, didn’t come without challenges. From the opening seconds, Alo’s gameplan was clear — attack aggressively with headlock attempts to neutralize Crevar’s intricate guard. The decorated Hawaiian wrestler and judoka even jumped for a kneebar attempt, threatening to derail the teenager’s debut before it truly began.
But Crevar’s ice-cold demeanor never wavered. She displayed masterful guard recovery, staying calm under siege before clearing her leg past the knee line to safety.
Once the defensive work was done, Crevar immediately countered with clinical precision. Training alongside leg-lock maestros John Danaher and Gordon Ryan clearly paid dividends, as she latched onto a figure-four grip from the 50-50 position and secured the tap seamlessly.
The Texas-based superstar shared:
“She is very quick, very aggressive, but I knew that if I got either on top or into the legs that I could finish her, and that’s pretty much what I did.
“Ankle locks are some of my favorite submissions, and that’s pretty much the one that I look to attack first. And as soon as I got it, it popped really quickly. I knew that it was in. It was just a matter of whether she would tap or not. But after the second pop, she tapped pretty quickly.”
That finish pushed Crevar’s astonishing career record to 346-7, adding her 306th submission victory to an already stacked resume.
Despite the flawless debut, the young grappler remained humble, grading herself far from satisfied.
For a perfectionist like Crevar, there’s always room to grow.
She said:
“I’ll probably give it a seven, because I know that I could always do better. And there could be some things that I could adjust. But it’s still a pretty good performance, quick submission, and [I’m] just happy.”
Crevar Praises Alo’s Growth, Eyes World Title Shot Next
Friday’s showdown wasn’t the first chapter in Helena Crevar and Teshya Noelani Alo’s rivalry. The pair first met three years ago during their colored belt days, where the 18-year-old prodigy edged out a close victory over the Hawaiian by penalty.
This time, the outcome was far more decisive, but Crevar acknowledged the evolution in both their games.
Beyond the improvements on the mat, Crevar also praised Alo as a person. Mutual respect between the two was evident.
The Las Vegas native said:
“Our games changed a lot. Last time, there wasn’t much movement. It was her in my guard the whole time, just a six-minute match of that. But this time, she was much more mobile, trying to pass my guard. It was a really great match.
“She’s definitely a great person. Very humble. Before and after the match, we shook each other’s hands and hugged. She’s a really great person, a great athlete as well. I’m just really happy that she accepted the match, and I’m grateful to her.”
Having passed her first test in ONE with flying colors, Crevar now sets her sights on bigger challenges.
The teenage phenom’s flawless promotional debut was merely the opening statement, and she’s only just getting started.
When asked who she wants to face next, Crevar offered:
“No one in particular. Anyone who would want to fight me at 155 at ONE Championship, or maybe openweight. Hopefully, a title shot at ONE.”
