Danielle Kelly is set to face Mayssa Bastos in a highly anticipated rematch at ONE Fight Night 26 on December 6, 2024, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Although Bastos is widely regarded as the favorite, with a strong record and nine IBJJF World Championships, Kelly is not intimidated by her opponent’s accolades. As a former atomweight submission grappling queen, Kelly has a history of overcoming the odds and remains confident in her ability to reclaim her title, regardless of Bastos’ ranking.
In an exclusive interview, Kelly emphasized that rankings don’t matter to her, stating, “I don’t care if she’s ranked number 1. It shouldn’t matter. She could be number 10 or 1. They’re just numbers to me.” Kelly has always embraced her underdog status and proved herself capable of rising to the occasion, notably when she faced Jessa Khan, another dominant figure in the sport, and emerged victorious.
Kelly plans to bring a new dimension to this matchup, emphasizing her guard game as a key factor. While Bastos might attempt to force Kelly onto her back, the 28-year-old grappler is confident that Bastos will be surprised by her guard and her ability to counter any attempts to pass. Kelly has previously struggled in her guard game, particularly in her bout with Khan, but she has since worked to refine it.
Prime Video subscribers in North America can watch this exciting contest live as part of the ONE Fight Night 26 card.
