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ONE Championship’s conscious and concerted effort to be a true home of martial arts has found a supporter in submission grappling ace Danielle Kelly.
Starting as a promotion that presents top-class mixed martial arts fare, ONE has steadily expanded its offering throughout the years, adding other combat sports like Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling, among others.
Danielle Kelly, who is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, believes that ONE Championship’s thrust to go beyond MMA has been going great and, by all indications, a success.
She noted that athletes like her and fellow submission grappling stars Kade Ruotolo and Mikey Musumeci, as well as Muay Thai superstars Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and kickboxing powerhouses Superbon Singha Mawynn and Janet Todd, have all been greatly spotlit and have gained an added following in ONE.
Non-MMA main events of the Singapore-based promotion, too, have been well-received and much-awaited, including those in its first live event offering for 2023 – ONE Fight Night 6, which will be headlined by Superbon – happening on January 13.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Danielle Kelly said:
“I think it means that they’re stepping up in the martial arts world. They’re taking a lot of steps, they’re you know, because it’s not just one martial art. They have jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, especially Muay Thai they’re doing a lot of good things with Muay Thai. And just martial arts in general. I hope I’m not forgetting anything, there’s kickboxing, too.”
Kelly made her ONE Championship debut in March last year after competing for years in different tournaments and promotions in the United States. She has seen action twice already in ONE and is set to take the circle again next month at ONE Fight Night 7 against Ayaka Miura.
Danielle Kelly feels ONE Championship’s equal push for men and women athletes
Danielle Kelly considers herself fortunate to be part of ONE Championship as she feels the organization’s commitment to look after her career.
Joining ONE last year, Kelly said she has seen how the promotion provides equal opportunities for both men and women athletes, allowing any and all to showcase what they are capable of. It is something she appreciates a lot.
Danielle Kelly told ONE Championship:
“It’s a great feeling and it just shows again, like, men and women, they can make a living off this sport. And ONE Championship is giving that towards the jiu-jitsu athletes.”
Kelly has already seen action twice in ONE Championship, which both merited a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Next up for her is a collision with Ayaka Miura of Japan at ONE Fight Night 7 on Amazon Prime in February.
