Danielle Kelly (grappler) explained

Birth Date:December 4, 1995
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Weight:115lb
Weight Class:Atomweight
Team:Silver Fox BJJ
Evolve MMA
Rank:1st degree black belt in BJJ under Karel Pravec[1]

Danielle Kelly (born December 4, 1995) is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who was the inaugural and former ONE Champion at atomweight, after she defeated by fellow BJJ practitioner Mayssa Bastos.[2] She has wins over IBJJF World Champion Jessa Khan, Roxanne Modafferi, Cynthia Calvillo and the former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.[3] [4]

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.[5] Kelly was scheduled to face Rose Namajunas at Fury Pro Grappling 3 on December 30, 2021.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12]

Kelly made her promotional debut against Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi in an atomweight submission grappling match at on March 26, 2022.[13] The match ended in a draw after neither could find the submission.[14] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[15]

Kelly faced Sambo World Champion Mariia Molchanova at ONE on Prime Video 4 on November 19, 2022.[16] She won the fight via rear-naked choke.[17] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[18]

Kelly faced Ayaka Miura at ONE Fight Night 7 on February 25, 2023.[19] She won the match by unanimous decision.[20]

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.[21] Kelly won the match by decision and became the promotion's first female submission grappling world champion.[22]

Kelly defended her title against Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24 on August 2nd, 2024.[23] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[24]

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.[25]

She fought at the inaugural UFC Fightpass Invitational on December 16, 2021, taking on Alexa Yanes. Kelly lost the match via split decision.[26]

Instructor lineage

Kano JigoroTomita TsunejirōMitsuyo MaedaCarlos Gracie Sr.Hélio GracieRolls GracieCarlos Gracie Jr.Renzo Gracie → Karel Pavec → Danielle Kelly[27]

Championships and accomplishments

Submission grappling record

ResultRecordOpponentMethodEventDivisionTypeDateLocation
Win20–9–1 Jessa KhanDecision (unanimous)ONE Fight Night 14−115 lbsNogiSeptember 29, 2023Kallang
Win19–9–1 Ayaka MiuraDecision (unanimous)ONE Fight Night 7−119 lbsNogiFebruary 24, 2023Bangkok
Win18–9–1 Mariia MolchanovaSubmission (rear-naked choke)ONE on Prime Video 4−115 lbsNogiNovember 18, 2022Kallang
Draw17–9–1 Mei YamaguchiDraw (time expire)−115 lbsNogiMarch 26, 2022Kallang
Win17–9 Carla EsparzaDoctor stoppage (cut)Fury Pro Grappling 3−115 lbsNogiDecember 30, 2021Philadelphia, PA
Loss16–9 Alexa YanesDecision (split)UFC Fight Pass Invitational−125 lbsNogiDecember 16, 2021Las Vegas, NV
Win16–8 Cathryn MillaresDecisionFury Pro Grappling 2−115 lbsNogiOctober 29, 2021Philadelphia, PA
Loss15–8 Tammi MusumeciSubmission (armlock)Who's Number One Championship–115 lbsNogiSeptember 26, 2021Austin, TX
Win15–7 Jessica CraneSubmission (inside heel hook)
Loss14–7 Grace GundrumDecisionSeptember 25, 2021
Win14–6 Sofia AmaranteSubmission (rear-naked choke)Fury Pro Grappling 1−115 lbsNogiJuly 2, 2021Philadelphia, PA
Win13–6 Jessica CraneSubmission (kneebar)WNO: Craig Jones vs Tye Ruotolo−115 lbsNogiJune 18, 2021Austin, TX
Loss12–6 Jessa KhanDecisionWNO: Craig Jones vs Ronaldo Junior−115 lbsNogiFebruary 26, 2021Austin, TX
Win12–5 Roxanne ModafferiSubmission (toe hold)Sumision Hunter Pro 60−130 lbsNogiOctober 25, 2020Houston, TX
Loss11–5 Grace GundrumFastest Escape TimeJiu-Jitsu Over Time: The Featherweights−115 lbsNogiJuly 19, 2020Los Angeles, CA
Loss11–4 Nicole SullivanSubmission2020 IBJJF San Jose Open No Gi−135.6 lbsNogiFebruary 25, 2020San Jose, CA
Win11–3 Cynthia CalvilloSubmission (ankle lock)Quintet Ultra−115 lbsNogiDecember 12, 2019Las Vegas, NV
Win10–3 Jillian DeCourseySubmission (kneebar)Rise Invitational 8−115 lbsNogiOctober 26, 2019Westbury, NY
Win9–3 Brittany WayOT2019 SubStars at The Tank 2−115 lbsNogiJuly 19, 2019Miami, FL
Win8–3 Mariuxi LlagunoPoints2019 JitzKing Tampa−125 lbsNogiJuly 6, 2019Tampa, FL
Loss7–3 Nicole SullivanSubmission2019 ADCC West Coast Trials–60 kgNogiFebruary 9, 2019Burbank, CA
Win7–2 Jessica BuchmanSubmission
Win6–2 Alison StieglerSubmission
Loss5–2 Rikako YuasaFastest Escape TimeEBI 18–115 lbsNogiDecember 9, 2018Austin, TX
Win5–1 Lilaa SmadjaSubmission (armbar)
Win4–1 Bruna BrunsSubmission (heel hook)Fight 2 Win 81−115 lbsNogiJuly 21, 2018Philadelphia, PA
Win3–1 Amanda KrammySubmission (armbar)Rise Invitational 3–125 lbsNogiJanuary 13, 2018Westbury, NY
Win2–1 Lauren BracciaSubmission (armbar)
Win1–1 Lilaa SmadjaOT2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship–125 lbsNogiMarch 12, 2014Irvine, CA
Loss0–1 Rikako YuasaOT
[28] [29] [30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: February 18, 2022 . BJJ Star Danielle Kelly Signs With ONE Championship . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  2. Web site: Danielle Kelly . 2023-10-27 . Meta Mat Warriors . October 26, 2023 . en-US.
  3. Web site: Danielle Kelly FloGrappling Grappling . 2022-12-23 . www.flograppling.com . en.
  4. Web site: Danielle Kelly Fighter Page . 2022-12-23 . Tapology . en.
  5. Web site: Danielle Kelly Discusses Her MMA Transition After Winning at Fury Pro Grappling 2 . October 31, 2021 .
  6. Web site: December 12, 2021 . FURY Grappling books Danielle Kelly vs. Rose Namajunas; Kevin Holland; others for Dec. 30 show . 2022-12-23 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  7. Web site: December 31, 2021 . FURY Pro Grappling 3 results: Carla Esparza's cut halts main event; Sean Brady upsets Craig Jones . 2022-12-23 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  8. Web site: Who's Number One: Craig Jones v Ronaldo Jr Full Results and Review . February 27, 2021 .
  9. Web site: Who's Number One: Craig Jones v Tye Ruotolo Full Results and Review . June 19, 2021 .
  10. Web site: WNO Championships Lineup Announced for 115lbs Division . July 30, 2021 .
  11. Web site: WNO Championships Full Results and Review . September 27, 2021 .
  12. Web site: February 18, 2022 . BJJ Star Danielle Kelly Signs With ONE Championship . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  13. Web site: March 2, 2022 . ONE X: Itsuki Hirata Draws Jihin Radzuan In MMA, Mei Yamaguchi Gets BJJ Star Danielle Kelly . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  14. Web site: March 26, 2022 . ONE X results: Demetrious Johnson submits Rodtang in mixed-rules bout; Angela Lee retains title with finish . 2022-12-23 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  15. Web site: March 28, 2022 . 7 Fighters Earn US$50,000 Performance Bonuses At ONE X . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  16. Web site: Tang . Andrea . October 28, 2022 . BREAKING: Danielle Kelly to Face Russian Sambo Champ Mariia Molchanova on November 18 . 2022-12-23 . Jiu-Jitsu Times . en-US.
  17. Web site: November 18, 2022 . ONE On Prime Video 4: Abbasov Vs. Lee – Results And Highlights For Every Fight . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  18. Web site: November 19, 2022 . Lee, Alexandre, Kelly Take Home $50K Performance Bonuses At ONE On Prime Video 4 . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  19. Web site: December 22, 2022 . Danielle Kelly To Face Ayaka Miura In Submission Grappling Match At ONE On Prime Video 7 . 2022-12-23 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
  20. Web site: BJJ Reigns Supreme In ONE Fight Night 7 Results . JitsMagazine . February 25, 2023 . 25 February 2023.
  21. Web site: Phillips . Sabrina . Danielle Kelly Faces Jessa Khan For First Women's Title At ONE Fight Night 14 . Meta Mat Warriors . 19 July 2023.
  22. Web site: Danielle Kelly Wins First Female Submission Grappling Title At ONE Fight Night 14 . Jitsmagazine . September 30, 2023 . 30 September 2023.
  23. Web site: Burne . Kathrine . Danielle Kelly To Defend Title Against Mayssa Bastos At ONE Fight Night 24 . Jitsmagazine . June 14, 2024 . 20 June 2024.
  24. Web site: Mayssa Bastos Dethrones Danielle Kelly In ONE Fight Night 24 Results . Jitsmagazine . 2024-08-04.
  25. Web site: Submission Hunter Pro 60 Full Results and Review . October 26, 2020 .
  26. Web site: UFC Fight Pass Invitational 1 Full Results and Review . December 18, 2021 .
  27. Web site: says . Jana Valkova-Gordon . Karel Pravec, Silver Fox BJJ Heroes . 2022-12-23.
  28. Web site: 2019 ADCC North American Trials: (West Coast) Grappling Event . 2022-12-23 . Tapology . en.
  29. Web site: December 8, 2018 . EBI 18 Live Results . 2022-12-23 . MMA Sucka . en.
  30. Web site: January 16, 2018 . RISE Invitational 3: Two Champions Crowned; Action-Packed Superfights . 2022-12-23 . NewYorkFighting.com . en-US.