Danielle Kelly is staying busy while working her way to world title shot in ONE Championship

Danielle Kelly hopes to become ONE Championship’s first female submission grappling world champion. Until that time comes, the photogenic submission star is more than happy to continue honing her craft in and out of the circle.

Kelly will make her first 2023 appearance this month when she faces judo black belt Ayaka Miura at ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video. The event takes place on February 24 in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and streams on Amazon Prime in U.S. prime time for North American subscribers.

Ahead of her return to competition, Danielle Kelly spoke with the South China Morning Post about her path to becoming a world champion under the ONE Championship banner:

“Yeah. I like competing, so whenever I feel ready, or whenever they feel they want to give me a title shot. I've been preparing for jiu-jitsu matches. I'm just challenging myself. So yeah, I really grateful that I get to still compete while I'm waiting for a title shot if I'm going to get a title shot. I mean, I'm still able to do what I love and be challenged, and travel to go beat up some girls.”

ONE crowned its first two submission grappling world champions this year with Mikey Musumeci leading the way, ‘Darth Rigatoni’ captured the flyweight world title in September with a unanimous decision win over Cleber Sousa.

A month later, ADCC world champion Kade Ruotolo submitted Sambo world champion Uali Kurzhev to become the first lightweight submission grappling world champion.

Watch the full interview below:

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Danielle Kelly hopes to be part of ONE Championship’s U.S. debut

On May 5, ONE Championship will make its long-awaited debut in the United States as the promotion presents ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video. Emanating from the 1stBank Center in Colorado, the event is scheduled to be headlined by a flyweight title trilogy bout as reigning ONE flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will once again square off with former titleholder Adriano Moraes.

If all goes according to plan, Danielle Kelly will be part of the festivities this spring. Continuing her conversation with SCMP MMA, Danielle Kelly said:

"Obviously, I would love to be in the first event, it's in the U.S. It's where I live and my family and friends can come to watch me because they obviously can't travel [out of] the country to watch me. I would love to do that. I think overall, I think everyone coming to ONE Championship in the U.S. is a big goal."

Also scheduled for the historic event is an atomweight showdown between fan favorite Stamp Fairtex and Muay Thai specialist Anissa Meksen. ‘Super’ Sage Northcutt will also make his return to the circle, four years removed from his ONE Championship debut.