Danielle Kelly found advantages competing in a ring instead of the Circle

Submission grappling ace Danielle Kelly competed inside a ring in her last match and saw advantages in it vis-a-vis inside the Circle.

The American fighter battled Japanese judoka Ayaka 'Zombie' Miura in a five-rope ring at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok at ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video. She emerged from the match victorious via unanimous decision.

Danielle Kelly shared after the fight that the setting provided a different experience from the customary circle they compete in under the ONE Championship banner. She did, however, note that she saw facets of it that worked in her favor in coming out victorious over Miura:

“I think the ring helped because it was bouncy, and whenever she would get me in a position, I would go against it. I just kept pushing my weight on the ring to try to get her back in a better position. I know she's competed in the ring before, once or twice. I knew she had that experience over me,” she said during the post-fight interviews.

At ONE Fight Night 7, Danielle Kelly was tested big time by Miura in the early goings of the contest. She was put in some tough positions, from which she had to dig deep to extricate herself from.

A strong finish, however, anchored on multiple rear-naked choke attempts, swung the tide in her favor as she went on to book the win.

The victory was the second for Danielle Kelly in ONE Championship, coming months after her win over Russian Mariia Molchanova by submission back in November.

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“I feel like I'm in an 80s movie” - Danielle Kelly says grappling in a boxing ring feels like Bloodsport

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Danielle Kelly is having a grand time competing in ONE Championship as it provides a whole new experience for her. This includes the varying settings they are sometimes made to take part in.

In an interview with SCMP MMA in the lead-up to her most recent fight, where she competed in a ring, she shared that she was excited and really looking forward to it.

She likened it to the 1980s movie Bloodsport, which starred Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Danielle Kelly said:

“There are little rules that I kind of have to figure out. Yeah, I mean, I like it. I'm kind of a nerd. It reminds me of like, I'm doing Bloodsport or like the other movies that are old school. I feel like I'm in an 80s movie right now. Like, when I go there. It's pretty cool. My inner nerd might come out so I don't know yet."

Watch the full interview below:

In Bloodsport, Van Damme plays Frank Dux, who competes in an underground, full-contact martial arts tournament in Hong Kong. The film also featured Forest Whitaker and Bolo Yeung.

Kelly battled judo specialist Ayaka Miura in a catchweight submission grappling contest inside a five-rope ring at ONE Fight Night 7 last February 24 in Bangkok. She emerged as the winner by unanimous decision.

The American grappling ace looks to continue evolving as a fighter in 2023, including competing in mixed martial arts if the opportunity presents itself.