“I needed to get into something” - Danielle Kelly on turning point that turned her into a fighter

Reigning and undisputed ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world champion Danielle Kelly of the United States is one of the fiercest women in martial arts today. But it wasn't always this way for the 28-year-old American superstar.

At one point in her life, Kelly was bullied growing up. Which is why her parents put her to martial arts school so she could learn to defend herself.

Kelly said in a recent guest appearance on The Few Will Hunt show:

"I give [my dad] a lot of credit for that. Such a long story, too. But I think with my first school, I was like, yeah, my mom actually went with me, because my dad found the place but my mom took me to that place."

She said that at first, her mother was super worried for her well being. But she knew deep inside that martial arts was the only way she could gain the confidence and the skills necessary to stick up for herself.

Kelly added:

"It was on a Friday. They were sweeping the mats, and my mom was explaining, you know, my poor mom was like, ‘My poor kid’. It makes me sad, because I knew she was worried, like I didn't understand. But it was like, I needed to get into something."

Kelly is now one of the best submission grapplers in the world, and she will get to showcase her abilities once again when she returns to action next month.

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Danielle Kelly to defend atomweight gold against Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video

Danielle Kelly is set to defend her ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world title against Brazil's Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video.

The event broadcasts live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, August 2nd.

Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action of ONE Fight Night 24 live and absolutely free on Amazon Prime Video.