5 Facts About BJJ Phenom Jessa Khan Before She Debuts At ONE 159
Jessa Khan is one of the most exciting rising stars in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the global fan base will get the chance to see why when she makes her ONE Championship debut on Friday, 22 July.
The 20-year-old Texas native will meet Amanda Alequin in an atomweight submission grappling contest on the lead card of ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash, and the two athletes already have some history.
This time, the young phenom will be hunting for redemption after a tough defeat to Alequin last September, and she has all of the tools to win their rematch at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Here are five fast facts that show why Khan is one of the world’s best women’s grapplers.
#1 She Dominated From An Early Age
Despite being just 20 years old, Khan already has a number of high-level accolades on her resume.
She was an active competitor as a junior, winning the IBJJF World Championships in 2017 and 2018, as well as other prestigious events, such as the IBJJF Pan And European Championships.
When she turned 16 and was eligible for adult belts, Khan continued her success with victories at the IBJJF World, Pan, and European Championships.
#2 She’s Making Waves At Black Belt
In October 2020, Khan earned her BJJ black belt at just 18 years of age, with her incredible resume proving that she was ready to mix it up with the elite.
And she’s made her mark since achieving her new rank, including winning the recent IBJJF Pan Championship and medaling at the World Championships.
The American also moved right into the upper echelon of the submission grappling world, earning multiple victories at the highly rated WNO event.
#3 She Trains Under BJJ Royalty
Khan bounced around as a youngster due to her father’s job in the United States Navy, and this meant she learned from many different coaches around the country.
However, she eventually settled at AOJ in California under the tutelage of the iconic Mendes brothers, who are both multiple-time BJJ World Champions and pioneers in the BJJ world.
With those mentors leading the way, Khan’s development rapidly accelerated and helped her become one of the most decorated female grapplers in United States history – and she still has a long way to go.
#4 She’s Won Gold For Cambodia
With Cambodian heritage from her mother’s side, Khan represented the nation at the Asian Games and SEA Games in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Although the tournament’s jiu-jitsu format isn’t identical to BJJ, Khan cleaned up with gold medals at both events.
#5 She’s Already Forging The Next Generation
Having gone from junior to adult success, Khan knows exactly how to take a childhood dream and mold it into a reality.
Now teaching at AOJ HQ, she is already inspiring the next group of youngsters to follow in her footsteps.
With passionate coaches like Khan building their foundations, the future is bright for these emerging grapplers, and they’re already starting to show it in competitions.
