"I've been preparing since the beginning of the year" - Danielle Kelly never stopped grinding after becoming world champion

BJJ queen Danielle Kelly worked really hard to become the inaugural ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion. So, she'll never settle for anything less than what she's achieved thus far.

The 28-year-old superstar made her big breakthrough on the world stage when she avenged a submission loss to Jessa Khan to capture the inaugural submission grappling belt last September at ONE Fight Night 14.

Since her victory, Kelly hasn't slacked off in her training. Moreover, she's spending more time and effort practicing and improving her craft to continue competing among the best in the world.

As Kelly knows, in this line of business, you never stop climbing the mountain to get to the top because there's always something higher beyond your current checkpoint.

So, as her first world title defense looms closer on August 2, Kelly has no jitters to shake off after being prepared from the start.

Speaking to Home of Fight, Kelly said:

"I've just been busy with, like, life and everything. I would say, like I've been kind of preparing since the beginning of the year."

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"No beach fun for me" - Danielle Kelly is in the zone before returning to ONE Championship to defend her world title against Brazil's Mayssa Bastos

Danielle Kelly is all work and no play for the next few weeks as she prepares to battle Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24.

The American native is facing her most difficult and accomplished opponent to date at the 115 lbs atomweight level.

Mayssa Bastos is a multiple-time BJJ gold medalist at the highest level. She's won major tournaments in both the Gi and No-Gi, at the rooster (107 lbs) and light featherweight (115 lbs) weight categories. As dangerous as she may be, Kelly is still resolved to defend her belt. Putting in the hours this summer, Kelly trains hard to do what others are unwilling to do.

On Instagram, she wrote the following message to her fans on July 4:

"Happy 4th of July to all my friends and followers. no beach fun for me but I'm looking forward to putting on a show for you guys soon."

ONE Fight Night 24 will air live in US Primetime free of charge for those with a Prime Video subscription in North America.