Danielle Kelly (grappler)


Danielle Kelly is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who was the inaugural and former ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion. She has wins over IBJJF World Champion Jessa Khan, Roxanne Modafferi, Cynthia Calvillo and the former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.
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Career

Fury Pro Grappling

Kelly fought Cathryn Millares in the co-main event of Fury Pro Grappling 2 on October 29, 2021 and won the match by unanimous decision. Kelly was scheduled to face Rose Namajunas at Fury Pro Grappling 3 on December 30, 2021. However, Namajunas was forced to withdraw from the event at the last minute due to a positive Covid-19 test and was replaced by Carla Esparza. During the match, Esparza slammed Kelly from full guard and the resulting clash of heads opened up a cut above Esparza's eyebrow. The doctors attending called the match off and the victory was awarded to Kelly as a result of the injury.

Who's Number One

Kelly made her debut for Who's Number One on February 26, 2021 at WNO: Craig Jones v Ronaldo Junior, where she lost a unanimous decision to Jessa Khan. She returned on June 18, 2021 at WNO: Craig Jones v Tye Ruotolo and submitted Jessica Crane with a kneebar in the first match of the event. These performances earned her an invitation to compete for a title in the Women's Strawweight division of the Who's Number One Championships on September 25–26, 2021. Kelly lost by unanimous decision to Grace Gundrum in the opening round, before submitting Jessica Crane with a heelhook in the first round of the consolation bracket. She was then submitted with an armlock by Tammi Musumeci and did not make it to the third-place final match.

ONE Championship

On February 17, 2022, it was announced that Kelly signed with ONE Championship to compete in grappling, as well as mixed martial arts if she wished to.
Kelly made her promotional debut against Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi in an atomweight submission grappling match at ONE: X on March 26, 2022. The match ended in a draw after neither could find the submission. This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.
Kelly faced Sambo World Champion Mariia Molchanova at ONE on Prime Video 4 on November 19, 2022. She won the fight via rear-naked choke. This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.
Kelly faced Ayaka Miura at ONE Fight Night 7 on February 25, 2023. She won the match by unanimous decision.

ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Championship

Kelly faced Jessa Khan in a rematch for the inaugural ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Championship on September 30, 2023 at ONE Fight Night 14. Kelly won the match by decision and became the promotion's first female submission grappling world champion.
Kelly defended her title against Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24 on August 2nd, 2024. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Kelly challenged Mayssa Bastos for her ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title in a rematch on December 6, 2024 at ONE Fight Night 26. She lost the match by decision.

Other Promotions

Kelly fought UFC veteran Roxanne Modafferi in the main event of Submission Hunter Pro 60 on October 25, 2020, submitting her with a toehold.
She fought at the inaugural UFC Fightpass Invitational on December 16, 2021, taking on Alexa Yanes. Kelly lost the match via split decision.

Instructor lineage

Kano Jigoro → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Carlos Gracie Jr. → Renzo Gracie → Karel Pavec → Danielle Kelly

Championships and accomplishments

ONE Championship

Submission grappling record

ResultRecordOpponentMethodEventDivisionTypeDateLocation
Loss20–11–1