“I know it sounds cliche” - Danielle Kelly says the goal is to continue challenging herself

Reigning and undisputed ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world champion Danielle Kelly of the United States says the secret to success at the highest level is simple -- it's to take on the biggest and baddest challenges.

Kelly reigns supreme in a highly competitive atomweight division, and as the queen of the weight class, she is open to taking on all-comers, including her toughest adversary yet this weekend in Mayssa Bastos.

Speaking to ONE Championship in a recent interview, Kelly said she just wants to prove she's the best. The 28-year-old said:

"I feel like I have to just keep kind of challenging myself. I know it sounds cliche, but it's pretty true, just because with training, I feel like it's more like, I'm more of a target for my division, for the 115-pound class. A lot hasn't changed. You know, it's still the same goal."

Kelly joined ONE Championship in March of 2022 and has four solid wins so far in the world's largest martial arts organization.

She captured the inaugural ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world title in September of 2023 with a unanimous decision over arch-nemesis Jessa Khan at ONE Fight Night 14.

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Danielle Kelly makes first defense of atomweight strap against Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video

Reigning atomweight queen Danielle Kelly of the United States is set to face multi-time BJJ world champion Mayssa Bastos of Brazil for the women's atomweight submission grappling world title.

The two lock horns in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video, which broadcasts live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, August 2.

Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and free with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the updates coming from fight week.