“My chance to prove that I’m the best” - Danielle Kelly describes the magnitude of her match against Mayssa Bastos

She may already sit on the throne, but Danielle Kelly believes her next match will be the one that defines her reign.

The reigning ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion will defend her strap against the dangerous Mayssa Bastos in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 24.

Kelly's first defense of her world title goes down on August 2 at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium.

In an interview with Home of Fight, Kelly expressed her admiration for Bastos and how the nine-time IBJJF world champion inspired her journey to the pantheon of ONE Championship.

Danielle Kelly, however, knows that a win over Bastos solidifies her case as the undisputed best female submission grappler on the planet.

She said:

"I've always looked up to her, even the first major tournament I did she won it. She pretty much won everything. She beat every girl at 115 (lbs), 105 (lbs). So this is my chance to really prove that I'm the best.

Kelly is widely regarded as one of the best female submission grapplers of this generation, and the woman she beat for the gold is also considered as such.

Jessa Khan already held a win over Kelly when they faced each other at Who's Number One in 2021, and became an IBJJF world champion before their rematch at ONE Fight Night 14.

Kelly eventually got her revenge in Singapore when she beat Khan via unanimous decision to become the inaugural ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion.

ONE Fight Night 24 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Danielle Kelly plans to break Mayssa Bastos in world title defense

Danielle Kelly knows that her world title match against Mayssa Bastos is a crucial juncture in her career.

The American star won't just defend her ONE atomweight submission grappling world title, but she'll also face a nine-time IBJJF world champion in Bastos.

In the same interview with Home of Fight, Kelly said she plans to unleash an attack that would eventually Bastos in their Bangkok encounter.

"This is gonna be a pretty competitive matchup, I know she's competing in the ADCC in the next two weeks so my goal is to try to break her so she's not going to be able to compete. I want to prove myself always."