Danielle Kelly: ONE Atomweight Champion and BJJ Star

Danielle Kelly is the ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion and one of the most-watched female grapplers in the modern era. She is one of the headline female athletes in professional submission grappling, with crossover appearances on UFC Fight Pass and a string of high-profile wins. This is the working profile.

Danielle Kelly at a glance

Attribute	Details
Full name	Danielle Kelly
Born	4 December 1995, Philadelphia, USA
Age	30
Nationality	American
Weight class	Atomweight (under 115 lb / 52 kg)
Belt	Black belt
Style	Aggressive submission grappling, leg-lock specialist
Major title	ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion
Notable opponents	Jessa Khan, Mei Yamaguchi, Mariia Molchanova, Rose Namajunas

Background and early career

Danielle Kelly was born in Philadelphia on 4 December 1995. She started training BJJ at age 10, originally as a way to deal with bullying at school. The discipline and structure of the sport gave her a path forward, and she quickly became serious about competing.

Through her teenage years she built a strong amateur and lower-belt competition record on the East Coast US circuit. By her early 20s she was on the radar of major submission grappling promotions, and her transition to professional grappling on the international stage followed naturally.

Career path: from BJJ competition to ONE Championship

Submission grappling debut and rise

Kelly's career took off when she signed with ONE Championship and competed in their submission grappling division. Her debut at ONE X in March 2022 was a landmark moment: it was the first women's submission grappling match in ONE Championship history. She faced MMA legend Mei Yamaguchi and earned a US $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

Eight months later at ONE on Prime Video 4, Kelly submitted Sambo World Champion Mariia Molchanova, earning another bonus and establishing herself as one of ONE's headline grapplers.

Winning the ONE Atomweight title

Kelly's defining moment came at ONE Fight Night 14 on 29 September 2023, where she defeated long-time rival Jessa Khan in a rematch to claim the ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title. The pair had a history dating back to earlier competition meetings, and Kelly's decision win was a clear redemption for previous losses.

The title gave Kelly the highest-profile pure-grappling title in women's submission grappling and confirmed her as the top atomweight in the world.

UFC Fight Pass crossover

Kelly has also appeared on UFC Fight Pass through Fury Pro Grappling events. The most-watched of these was her match against UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at Fury Pro Grappling 3, a dream matchup that brought BJJ audiences into the UFC ecosystem and vice versa.

She has been open about her interest in matchups against other UFC-affiliated figures, including Demian Maia, Ryan Hall and Mackenzie Dern, all submission specialists with crossover appeal.

Fighting style

Kelly's style is built around:

• Aggressive submission hunting. She attacks from every position rather than playing for points.
• Leg-lock proficiency. She has developed a strong leg-lock game, useful in modern submission grappling.
• Composure under pressure. Her ability to stay technical through high-stakes title matches is a hallmark of her professional career.
• Crossover appeal. Her style is exciting to watch even for casual fans, which is part of why she has built a significant audience beyond traditional BJJ.

For more on the techniques she uses, see our BJJ moves glossary.

Why she matters for women's BJJ

Kelly is one of the most visible female grapplers of the modern era. Her impact:

• Visibility for women's submission grappling. The first women's match in ONE Championship history was hers. The visibility she has built has opened doors for other female grapplers signing professional contracts.
• Crossover into the UFC audience. Her Fight Pass appearances against Rose Namajunas and others have introduced submission grappling to a much wider audience than traditional BJJ events reach.
• Inspiration for female practitioners. Kelly's path from a bullied 10-year-old to ONE World Champion is one of the most widely cited stories in women's BJJ.

For more on the wider women's BJJ scene, see our women in BJJ page.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Danielle Kelly? Danielle Kelly is an American BJJ black belt and the ONE Women's Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion. She is one of the most prominent female grapplers in modern submission grappling.

How old is Danielle Kelly? She was born on 4 December 1995, making her 30 in 2026.

What is Danielle Kelly's weight class? Atomweight, under 115 lb (52 kg).

Where is Danielle Kelly from? Philadelphia, United States.

Has Danielle Kelly fought in the UFC? She has not competed in the UFC. She has appeared on UFC Fight Pass through Fury Pro Grappling events, including a high-profile match against UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

Who is Danielle Kelly's biggest rival? Jessa Khan. The pair have met multiple times across major submission grappling events, with Kelly winning their most recent title bout at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023.

When did Danielle Kelly win the ONE atomweight title? At ONE Fight Night 14 on 29 September 2023, by decision over Jessa Khan.

What is Danielle Kelly's BJJ background? She started training at age 10 in Philadelphia and built her competitive base on the East Coast US BJJ circuit before transitioning to professional submission grappling with ONE Championship.

Will Danielle Kelly transition to MMA? She has spoken about MMA matchups including potential bouts with figures like Angela Lee. As of 2026 she remains focused on submission grappling, but the door to MMA has not been closed.

Why is Danielle Kelly important for women's BJJ? She is one of the most visible female submission grapplers in the world, the headliner of ONE's women's submission grappling division, and a key figure in the broader push to professionalise women's BJJ.

The bottom line

Danielle Kelly is the headline female grappler of the modern submission grappling era. The ONE Atomweight title, the Fight Pass crossover appearances, and the consistent string of high-profile wins place her among the most accomplished active female competitors in the sport.

For more on women's BJJ and the wider competitive scene, see our women in BJJ page, the top BJJ athletes round-up, the What is ADCC explainer and the top BJJ competitions worldwide guide. For more BJJ black belt profiles, see our pieces on Daniel Strauss and John Danaher.