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Danielle Kelly’s technical prowess has been on full display in her first two outings inside the ONE Championship Circle. And the American grappler is eyeing another impressive performance when she returns at ONE Fight Night 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II on Prime Video on February 24.

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That evening, Kelly faces off against Ayaka “Zombie” Miura in a 119-pound catchweight submission grappling battle, and another victory may strengthen her case to compete for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title at some point in the future – something the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom is ultimately aiming for. “I want to win that women’s title for 115, for sure,” she shared.

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Danielle Kelly might have her toughest challenge in the bout against Miura

The Silver Fox BJJ representative put in a solid performance against Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi in her debut last March and followed that up by scoring a finish over Mariia Molchanova in November. But her upcoming opponent may well represent the biggest challenge Kelly has faced thus far in the Circle.

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Japanese judoka sensation Miura is known for her excellent takedowns and intense top game, and she knows how to play her cards right from her opponent’s guard. This could cause problems for the Philadelphia native, who likes to utilize a guard-heavy game plan in her matches.

READ MORE – 3 of the Best Finishes From the Stars Competing at ONE Fight Night 7

To minimize Miura’s offensive threat, Kelly has started incorporating more wrestling drills into her training camp. And she believes this might make a difference on fight night.

Kelly predicted an exciting bout with a choke-out victory over her opponent

“I’ve been working on my wrestling. I’m trying to get back to that because I used to wrestle a lot. I don’t want to be just a guard puller. So if I go against her, I think it’d be a fun match,” the 27-year-old said. “Because I know she’s a judo black belt. I think she does a lot of takedowns for MMA fights. So yeah, we’re figuring out her game.”

Despite having respect for her opponent’s strengths, Kelly remains confident of one thing – that she’ll add another emphatic finish to her slate on February 24. Whether it comes through her world-renowned leg locks or a choke, the American upstart is ready to start her 2023 campaign with a bang.

READ MORE – ONE Friday Fights 4 Lineup Confirmed, 10 Fights Set To Light Up Lumpinee Stadium

I’ll be submitting her. I would like to get a choke. I think leglocks are starting to be overrated. But I mean, if I get a leg lock, then I’ll just go for it. But I don’t want to just have tunnel vision on it,” Kelly said.

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Souvik Roy

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The coveted scrap between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson in 2002 was when I realized the passion for combat sports within my family. My interest in combat sports began watching scripted pro wrestling shows. It was my father who directed me towards combat sports and it wasn’t until the late 2010s that I discovered the world of MMA and the UFC. Like many of you, I too, tuned in for the infamous Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor bout live on October 6, 2018. Being an ardent fan of the UFC (and Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier), I was always looking to have conversations about the same with others. But to my disappointment, I hardly found any followers of the sports to interact with. So I took it upon myself to do my part in popularizing the thrill and the agony behind the purest form of unarmed combat. At EssentiallySports, I try to bring the readers closer to the athletes and focus my coverage on exploring the human side of these martial artists. I’m a musician during my time free from reporting MMA. I operate as the lead vocalist of a rock band that aims to make their mark among the audiences with their original alternative-hard rock songs. You can hit me up at-

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Rohini Kottu

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