Danielle Kelly wants to travel the world and teach jiu-jitsu

Submission grappling ace Danielle Kelly is bent on building on her burgeoning ONE Championship career this year, but also seeks to balance things out with other activities she is passionate about.

Among the things she likes to do apart from competing in ONE is to travel to different parts of the world for leisure and also teach jiu-jitsu.

Kelly shared this in a recent interview with SCMP MMA:

“I hope to compete three or four times this year, win those matches, get a lot of submissions and yeah, just do what I love. But I definitely want to travel outside of jiu-jitsu stuff. You know, just teach the art, just kind of go around. Traveling, teaching, and competing.”

Watch the full interview below:

The Silverfox BJJ affiliate joined the promotion a year ago and is enjoying her stay in ONE for the many opportunities given to female athletes like her.

Danielle Kelly has two fights under her belt to date – a draw in her promotional debut against Japan's Mei Yamaguchi in March last year and a submission victory over Russia's Mariia Molchanova in November. In both fights, she received a $50,000 performance bonus.

She will begin her 2023 campaign on February 24 at ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video in Bangkok, Thailand, taking on Ayaka Miura in a catchweight submission grappling contest.

The Miura fight is part of Kelly’s push this year to achieve greater heights in ONE, including competing for a potential submission grappling world title.

ONE Fight Night 7 is available live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America.

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Danielle Kelly talks about being the first woman to grapple at iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Danielle Kelly returns to action later this month at the famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand in a fight that carries much historical significance.

The American fighter will take on Japanese judo specialist Ayaka Miura in a submission grappling showdown at ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video on February 24. They will become the first female athletes to compete in a grappling match in the celebrated Bangkok arena.

The fight’s importance is not lost on Danielle Kelly, viewing it as a privilege and something she is really looking forward to. She told SCMP MMA:

“Yeah, I was just saying too, even being the first women's grappling match in ONE Championship back in March, that was a big stepping stone for me, like, a big accomplishment in my grappling career. And being that, I can be that girl to push forward women's jiu-jitsu and just promote grappling on the stage as well as the guys are doing now, like Kade [Ruotolo] and Mikey [Musumeci].”

Danielle Kelly is coming off a submission victory over Russian Mariia Molchonova last November. Miura, for her part, is transitioning to submission grappling, beginning with ONE Fight Night 7.

Danielle Kelly said she is expecting a tough challenge from ‘Zombie’, but expressed her readiness come fight night. She said she will be drawing from her vast experience competing at various levels and tournaments in jiu-jitsu and against opponents with varying styles.