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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 was defeated by fellow BJJ practitioner Mayssa Bastos. She has wins over IBJJF World Champion Jessa Khan, Roxanne Modafferi, Cynthia Calvillo and the former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.

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
  • ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion (One time; former; inaugural)
  • Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Mei Yamaguchi and Mariia Molchanova
• RISE Invitational
  • Rise Invitational 3 125 lbs Championship (2018)
• Submission Hunter Pro
  • SHP 130 lbs No Gi Champion

Submission grappling record

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Division	Type	Date	Location
Win	20–9–1	Jessa Khan	Decision (unanimous)	ONE Fight Night 14	−115 lbs	Nogi	September 29, 2023	Kallang
Win	19–9–1	Ayaka Miura	Decision (unanimous)	ONE Fight Night 7	−119 lbs	Nogi	February 24, 2023	Bangkok
Win	18–9–1	Mariia Molchanova	Submission (rear-naked choke)	ONE on Prime Video 4	−115 lbs	Nogi	November 18, 2022	Kallang
Draw	17–9–1	Mei Yamaguchi	Draw (time expire)	ONE: X	−115 lbs	Nogi	March 26, 2022	Kallang
Win	17–9	Carla Esparza	Doctor stoppage (cut)	Fury Pro Grappling 3	−115 lbs	Nogi	December 30, 2021	Philadelphia, PA
Loss	16–9	Alexa Yanes	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Pass Invitational	−125 lbs	Nogi	December 16, 2021	Las Vegas, NV
Win	16–8	Cathryn Millares	Decision	Fury Pro Grappling 2	−115 lbs	Nogi	October 29, 2021	Philadelphia, PA
Loss	15–8	Tammi Musumeci	Submission (armlock)	Who's Number One Championship	–115 lbs	Nogi	September 26, 2021	Austin, TX
Win	15–7	Jessica Crane	Submission (inside heel hook)
Loss	14–7	Grace Gundrum	Decision				September 25, 2021
Win	14–6	Sofia Amarante	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Fury Pro Grappling 1	−115 lbs	Nogi	July 2, 2021	Philadelphia, PA
Win	13–6	Jessica Crane	Submission (kneebar)	WNO: Craig Jones vs Tye Ruotolo	−115 lbs	Nogi	June 18, 2021	Austin, TX
Loss	12–6	Jessa Khan	Decision	WNO: Craig Jones vs Ronaldo Junior	−115 lbs	Nogi	February 26, 2021	Austin, TX
Win	12–5	Roxanne Modafferi	Submission (toe hold)	Sumision Hunter Pro 60	−130 lbs	Nogi	October 25, 2020	Houston, TX
Loss	11–5	Grace Gundrum	Fastest Escape Time	Jiu-Jitsu Over Time: The Featherweights	−115 lbs	Nogi	July 19, 2020	Los Angeles, CA
Loss	11–4	Nicole Sullivan	Submission	2020 IBJJF San Jose Open No Gi	−135.6 lbs	Nogi	February 25, 2020	San Jose, CA
Win	11–3	Cynthia Calvillo	Submission (ankle lock)	Quintet Ultra	−115 lbs	Nogi	December 12, 2019	Las Vegas, NV
Win	10–3	Jillian DeCoursey	Submission (kneebar)	Rise Invitational 8	−115 lbs	Nogi	October 26, 2019	Westbury, NY
Win	9–3	Brittany Way	OT	2019 SubStars at The Tank 2	−115 lbs	Nogi	July 19, 2019	Miami, FL
Win	8–3	Mariuxi Llaguno	Points	2019 JitzKing Tampa	−125 lbs	Nogi	July 6, 2019	Tampa, FL
Loss	7–3	Nicole Sullivan	Submission	2019 ADCC West Coast Trials	–60 kg	Nogi	February 9, 2019	Burbank, CA
Win	7–2	Jessica Buchman	Submission
Win	6–2	Alison Stiegler	Submission
Loss	5–2	Rikako Yuasa	Fastest Escape Time	EBI 18	–115 lbs	Nogi	December 9, 2018	Austin, TX
Win	5–1	Lilaa Smadja	Submission (armbar)
Win	4–1	Bruna Bruns	Submission (heel hook)	Fight 2 Win 81	−115 lbs	Nogi	July 21, 2018	Philadelphia, PA
Win	3–1	Amanda Krammy	Submission (armbar)	Rise Invitational 3	–125 lbs	Nogi	January 13, 2018	Westbury, NY
Win	2–1	Lauren Braccia	Submission (armbar)
Win	1–1	Lilaa Smadja	OT	2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship	–125 lbs	Nogi	March 12, 2014	Irvine, CA
Loss	0–1	Rikako Yuasa	OT

References

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

• American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Living people
• People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• American submission wrestlers
• 1995 births
• Submission grapplers
• ONE Championship champions
• ONE Championship submission grapplers