“Would definitely put me up there” - Danielle Kelly determined on redeeming her loss to Mayssa Bastos in world title redux

Danielle Kelly knows she'll add two major accomplishments to her resumme should she get her hand raised in her second matchup against Mayssa Bastos. The Philadelphia native will face Bastos for the ONE atomweight submission grappling world championship at the stacked ONE Fight Night 26 card on Friday, U.S. primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.

She knows beating the nine-time IBJJF world champion Bastos in Bangkok would solidify her argument as one of this generation's best female submission grapplers.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Danielle Kelly said:

"Well, one is getting my belt back. But, two, it's definitely beating Mayssa. Because, again, I don't care about the numbers and rankings. I don't even think that's accurate either. But she is the most decorated girl in our weight class and below. So, beating her would definitely put me up there."

Kelly was the inaugural ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion when she beat old nemesis Jessa Khan for the strap via unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 14. Her reign, however, came to a halt when she relinquished the throne to Bastos via unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 24 in August this year.

Their previous match was as close as possible, and fans still argue that the result could've gone either way. Nevertheless, the drama that surrounded that earlier world title meeting will have its sequel, with Kelly now hunting for the throne and Bastos defending against the former queen.

ONE Fight Night 26 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Danielle Kelly doesn't see Mayssa Bastos changing her approach for impending rematch

Danielle Kelly believes she's downloaded as much data as possible from her previous world title matchup against Mayssa Bastos. In the same interview with ONE Championship, Kelly said she doesn't expect Bastos to employ a different game plan for their ONE Fight Night 26 world title rematch.

Kelly said:

"I don't think she's gonna change much again. Maybe she'll surprise me. Maybe she'll wrestle. I think if she tries to change her game, it'll kind of do her a disservice. But I'm already expecting the same things, so yeah, my goal is to just go after her."