Danielle Kelly (born December 4, 1995) is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who is currently the ONE Champion at atomweight.[2] She has wins over IBJJF World Champion Jessa Khan, Roxanne Modafferi, Cynthia Calvillo and the former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.[3][4] She is the current and inaugural ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion.
| Danielle Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1995 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Height | 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) |
| Weight | 115 lb (52 kg) |
| Division | Atomweight |
| Team | Silver Fox BJJ Evolve MMA |
| Rank | 1st degree black belt in BJJ under Karel Pravec[1] |
Career edit
Fury Pro Grappling edit
Kelly fought Cathryn Millares in the co-main event of Fury Pro Grappling 2 on October 29, 2021 and won the match by unanimous decision.[5] Kelly was scheduled to face Rose Namajunas at Fury Pro Grappling 3 on December 30, 2021.[6] However, Namajunas was forced to withdraw from the event at the last minute due to a positive Covid-19 test and was replaced by Carla Esparza. During the match, Esparza slammed Kelly from full guard and the resulting clash of heads opened up a cut above Esparza's eyebrow. The doctors attending called the match off and the victory was awarded to Kelly as a result of the injury.[7]
Who's Number One edit
Kelly made her debut for Who's Number One on February 26, 2021 at WNO: Craig Jones v Ronaldo Junior, where she lost a unanimous decision to Jessa Khan.[8] She returned on June 18, 2021 at WNO: Craig Jones v Tye Ruotolo and submitted Jessica Crane with a kneebar in the first match of the event.[9] These performances earned her an invitation to compete for a title in the Women's Strawweight division of the Who's Number One Championships on September 25–26, 2021.[10] Kelly lost by unanimous decision to Grace Gundrum in the opening round, before submitting Jessica Crane with a heelhook in the first round of the consolation bracket. She was then submitted with an armlock by Tammi Musumeci and did not make it to the third-place final match.[11]
ONE Championship edit
On February 17, 2022, it was announced that Kelly signed with ONE Championship to compete in grappling, as well as mixed martial arts if she wished to.[1]
Kelly made her promotional debut against Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi in an atomweight submission grappling match at ONE: X on March 26, 2022.[12] The match ended in a draw after neither could find the submission.[13] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[14]
Kelly faced Sambo World Champion Mariia Molchanova at ONE on Prime Video 4 on November 19, 2022.[15] She won the fight via rear-naked choke.[16] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[17]
Kelly faced Ayaka Miura at ONE Fight Night 7 on February 25, 2023.[18] She won the match by unanimous decision.[19]
ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Championship edit
Kelly faced Jessa Khan in a rematch for the inaugural ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Championship on September 30, 2023 at ONE Fight Night 14.[20] Kelly won the match by decision and became the promotion's first female submission grappling world champion.[21]
Other Promotions edit
Kelly fought UFC veteran Roxanne Modafferi in the main event of Submission Hunter Pro 60 on October 25, 2020, submitting her with a toehold.[22]
She fought at the inaugural UFC Fightpass Invitational on December 16, 2021, taking on Alexa Yanes. Kelly lost the match via split decision.[23]
Instructor lineage edit
Kano Jigoro → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Carlos Gracie Jr. → Renzo Gracie → Karel Pavec → Danielle Kelly[24]
Championships and accomplishments edit
- ONE Championship
- ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion (One time; current; inaugural)
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Mei Yamaguchi and Mariia Molchanova[14][17]
- RISE Invitational
- Rise Invitational 3 125 lbs Championship (2018)[25]
- Submission Hunter Pro
- SHP 130 lbs No Gi Champion[22]
Submission grappling record edit
| 30 matches | 20 wins | 9 losses |
| By submission | 14 | 3 |
| By decision | 6 | 6 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Division | Type | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–9–1 |  Jessa Khan
|
Decision (unanimous) | ONE Fight Night 14 | −115 lbs | Nogi | September 29, 2023 |  Kallang
|
| Win | 19–9–1 |  Ayaka Miura
|
Decision (unanimous) | ONE Fight Night 7 | −119 lbs | Nogi | February 24, 2023 |  Bangkok
|
| Win | 18–9–1 |  Mariia Molchanova
|
Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE on Prime Video 4 | −115 lbs | Nogi | November 18, 2022 | Kallang
|
| Draw | 17–9–1 | Mei Yamaguchi
|
Draw (time expire) | ONE: X | −115 lbs | Nogi | March 26, 2022 | Kallang
|
| Win | 17–9 |  Carla Esparza
|
Doctor stoppage (cut) | Fury Pro Grappling 3 | −115 lbs | Nogi | December 30, 2021 | Philadelphia, PA
|
| Loss | 16–9 | Alexa Yanes
|
Decision (split) | UFC Fight Pass Invitational | −125 lbs | Nogi | December 16, 2021 | Las Vegas, NV
|
| Win | 16–8 | Cathryn Millares
|
Decision | Fury Pro Grappling 2 | −115 lbs | Nogi | October 29, 2021 | Philadelphia, PA
|
| Loss | 15–8 | Tammi Musumeci
|
Submission (armlock) | Who's Number One Championship | –115 lbs | Nogi | September 26, 2021 | Austin, TX
|
| Win | 15–7 | Jessica Crane
|
Submission (inside heel hook) | |||||
| Loss | 14–7 | Grace Gundrum
|
Decision | September 25, 2021 | ||||
| Win | 14–6 | Sofia Amarante
|
Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fury Pro Grappling 1 | −115 lbs | Nogi | July 2, 2021 | Philadelphia, PA
|
| Win | 13–6 | Jessica Crane
|
Submission (kneebar) | WNO: Craig Jones vs Tye Ruotolo | −115 lbs | Nogi | June 18, 2021 | Austin, TX
|
| Loss | 12–6 | Jessa Khan
|
Decision | WNO: Craig Jones vs Ronaldo Junior | −115 lbs | Nogi | February 26, 2021 | Austin, TX
|
| Win | 12–5 | Roxanne Modafferi
|
Submission (toe hold) | Sumision Hunter Pro 60 | −130 lbs | Nogi | October 25, 2020 | Houston, TX
|
| Loss | 11–5 | Grace Gundrum
|
Fastest Escape Time | Jiu-Jitsu Over Time: The Featherweights | −115 lbs | Nogi | July 19, 2020 | Los Angeles, CA
|
| Loss | 11–4 | Nicole Sullivan
|
Submission | 2020 IBJJF San Jose Open No Gi | −135.6 lbs | Nogi | February 25, 2020 | San Jose, CA
|
| Win | 11–3 | Cynthia Calvillo
|
Submission (ankle lock) | Quintet Ultra | −115 lbs | Nogi | December 12, 2019 | Las Vegas, NV
|
| Win | 10–3 | Jillian DeCoursey
|
Submission (kneebar) | Rise Invitational 8 | −115 lbs | Nogi | October 26, 2019 | Westbury, NY
|
| Win | 9–3 | Brittany Way
|
OT | 2019 SubStars at The Tank 2 | −115 lbs | Nogi | July 19, 2019 | Miami, FL
|
| Win | 8–3 | Mariuxi Llaguno
|
Points | 2019 JitzKing Tampa | −125 lbs | Nogi | July 6, 2019 | Tampa, FL
|
| Loss | 7–3 | Nicole Sullivan
|
Submission | 2019 ADCC West Coast Trials | –60 kg | Nogi | February 9, 2019 | Burbank, CA
|
| Win | 7–2 | Jessica Buchman
|
Submission | |||||
| Win | 6–2 | Alison Stiegler
|
Submission | |||||
| Loss | 5–2 | Rikako Yuasa
|
Fastest Escape Time | EBI 18 | –115 lbs | Nogi | December 9, 2018 | Austin, TX
|
| Win | 5–1 | Lilaa Smadja
|
Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 4–1 |  Bruna Bruns
|
Submission (heel hook) | Fight 2 Win 81 | −115 lbs | Nogi | July 21, 2018 | Philadelphia, PA
|
| Win | 3–1 | Amanda Krammy
|
Submission (armbar) | Rise Invitational 3 | –125 lbs | Nogi | January 13, 2018 | Westbury, NY
|
| Win | 2–1 | Lauren Braccia
|
Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 1–1 | Lilaa Smadja
|
OT | 2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship | –125 lbs | Nogi | March 12, 2014 | Irvine, CA
|
| Loss | 0–1 | Rikako Yuasa
|
OT |
References edit
- ^ a b "BJJ Star Danielle Kelly Signs With ONE Championship". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. February 18, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Danielle Kelly". Meta Mat Warriors. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Danielle Kelly | FloGrappling | Grappling". www.flograppling.com. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "Danielle Kelly | Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Danielle Kelly Discusses Her MMA Transition After Winning at Fury Pro Grappling 2". October 31, 2021.
- ^ "FURY Grappling books Danielle Kelly vs. Rose Namajunas; Kevin Holland; others for Dec. 30 show". MMA Junkie. December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "FURY Pro Grappling 3 results: Carla Esparza's cut halts main event; Sean Brady upsets Craig Jones". MMA Junkie. December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Who's Number One: Craig Jones v Ronaldo Jr Full Results and Review". February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Who's Number One: Craig Jones v Tye Ruotolo Full Results and Review". June 19, 2021.
- ^ "WNO Championships Lineup Announced for 115lbs Division". July 30, 2021.
- ^ "WNO Championships Full Results and Review". September 27, 2021.
- ^ "ONE X: Itsuki Hirata Draws Jihin Radzuan In MMA, Mei Yamaguchi Gets BJJ Star Danielle Kelly". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. March 2, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "ONE X results: Demetrious Johnson submits Rodtang in mixed-rules bout; Angela Lee retains title with finish". MMA Junkie. March 26, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "7 Fighters Earn US$50,000 Performance Bonuses At ONE X". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. March 28, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Tang, Andrea (October 28, 2022). "BREAKING: Danielle Kelly to Face Russian Sambo Champ Mariia Molchanova on November 18". Jiu-Jitsu Times. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "ONE On Prime Video 4: Abbasov Vs. Lee – Results And Highlights For Every Fight". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "Lee, Alexandre, Kelly Take Home $50K Performance Bonuses At ONE On Prime Video 4". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. November 19, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Danielle Kelly To Face Ayaka Miura In Submission Grappling Match At ONE On Prime Video 7". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "BJJ Reigns Supreme In ONE Fight Night 7 Results". JitsMagazine. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Phillips, Sabrina. "Danielle Kelly Faces Jessa Khan For First Women's Title At ONE Fight Night 14". Meta Mat Warriors. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Danielle Kelly Wins First Female Submission Grappling Title At ONE Fight Night 14". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "Submission Hunter Pro 60 Full Results and Review". October 26, 2020.
- ^ "UFC Fight Pass Invitational 1 Full Results and Review". December 18, 2021.
- ^ says, Jana Valkova-Gordon. "Karel Pravec, Silver Fox | BJJ Heroes". Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "RISE Invitational 3: Two Champions Crowned; Action-Packed Superfights". NewYorkFighting.com. January 16, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "2019 ADCC North American Trials: (West Coast) | Grappling Event". Tapology. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "EBI 18 Live Results". MMA Sucka. December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2022.