There’s no set date, but MMA is bound to be some part of Danielle Kelly’s combat sports career.
The standout grappler currently signed with ONE Championship is confident she’ll make a transition into MMA at some point in her career. For now, Kelly is currently focused on furthering her grappling career but keeps MMA in mind.
“I still have to prove myself a lot in jiu-jitsu,” Kelly told MMA Junkie. “If I make the jump to MMA right away, I won’t feel I’m complete. Some things will have to be negotiated, but when that time comes, I’ll be ready just whenever that is, but right now I’m focused on jiu-jitsu.”
Kelly competes Sept. 29 in a rematch against Jessa Khan for the inaugural ONE women’s atomweight submission grappling title. It’s one of the boxes on her checklist she needs to hit before transitioning to MMA.
“When I become a world champion, when I beat more legends, then maybe I’ll make the walk over,” Kelly said. “Eventually I want to (transition to MMA) because that’s why I signed up to jiu-jitsu in the first place, because I was getting bullied. It wasn’t as popular when I started, but now women’s jiujitsu and MMA is a lot more popular.”
Although Kelly has yet to compete in MMA, she has competed against notable MMA talent in grappling. She’s gone up against and beat former UFC champion Carla Esparza, and UFC veterans Cynthia Calvillo and Roxanne Modafferi.
She doesn’t underestimate the other aspects of MMA outside of grappling, but believes she’ll have a head start with her grappling once she decides to transition.
“If you just know your basics, you’re going to get really far,” Kelly said. “You need a good base of striking to defend yourself, and I know it’s easier said than done. It’s getting tougher and tougher in combat sports. Women’s combat sports are catching up with the guys. I feel like with MMA girls, if they have a good, solid jiu-jitsu base, they’re unstoppable.”
