Danielle Kelly Vs. Ayaka Miura Set For ONE on Prime Video 7

Following a monumental year for Danielle Kelly, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star is wasting no time in getting 2023 started.

The American grappler is booked in for her third submission grappling showdown in ONE Championship when she meets Ayaka Miura at ONE on Prime Video 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II on Friday, 10th February.

Kelly has been on top form under ONE’s banner, with a win and back-to-back US$50,000 performance bonuses coming from her first two appearances.

She made history in March at ONE X when she competed in the organization’s first women’s submission grappling match. The Silver Fox BJJ representative faced MMA legend Mei Yamaguchi on the night, battling to a thrilling draw.

Kelly’s next outing came at ONE on Prime Video 4: Abbasov vs. Lee, where she met her sternest challenge yet in Sambo World Champion Mariia Molchanova. 

The Philadelphia native passed the test with flying colors, locking a rear-naked choke in on Molchanova just over two minutes into the fight to grab her first in ONE.

Former ONE Strawweight World Title challenger Miura will be looking to stop Kelly in her tracks when they square off early next year.

“Zombie” possesses an elite grappling skill set of her own, and she’s compact with strong takedowns and a grueling pressure game. 

Miura is no stranger to competition in ONE, with four victories inside the Circle coming by submission. The Japanese martial artist has a plethora of Americana and Scarfhold-variation victories to her name, so much so that it has become known as the “Ayaka Lock.”

The 32-year-old has no qualms about putting her adversary on their back and smothering them until she finds an opening to sink in her signature finish. 

Kelly also isn’t opposed to fighting off her back, and she has an abstract talent for leg locks and utilizing her guard to open up opportunities for chokes. 

The contrasting styles of these American and Japanese competitors are bound to make this matchup a thrilling affair in February, with the top spot of the atomweight submission grappling division hanging in the balance.