Mayssa Bastos Vs. Danielle Kelly II: 4 Keys To Victory In World Title Rematch At ONE Fight Night 26
Fans will be in for a treat at ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov on Prime Video when reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mayssa Bastos defends her belt in a hotly anticipated rematch with former titleholder Danielle Kelly.
Set to air live in U.S. primetime this Friday, December 6, that World Title clash marks another meeting between two of the planet’s most talented BJJ black belts.
The pair first met in August at ONE Fight Night 24, where Bastos walked away with a closely contested decision victory – and 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold – after 10 minutes of torrid, back-and-forth action.
As each woman prepares for another high-stakes showdown in Bangkok, Thailand, we take a closer look at the biggest keys to victory for both the challenger and the World Champion.
#1 Kelly’s Commitment To Guard Passing
As the superior wrestler and takedown artist, it’s no surprise that Kelly was able to secure the top position early in her first clash with Bastos. However, it was the Brazilian who did most of the attacking from the bottom position, forcing Kelly largely on the defensive.
The American superstar can’t afford to make the same mistake in the rematch. Kelly is a truly elite guard passer, and she must commit to passing her foe’s notoriously tricky guard if she hopes to turn the tables.
Rather than backing away or disengaging whenever Bastos attacks her, the 29-year-old would be wise to press forward and control the tempo of the match with her passing game.
#2 Bastos’ Early Aggression
In their first match, the Brazilian fell behind early, only to even the score late with a flurry of activity.
Now that she’s felt what Kelly brings to the table, Bastos shouldn’t waste any time in the rematch and should instead go submission hunting early and often.
In addition to her unparalleled back-taking game, the divisional queen possesses world-class leg locks – which is exactly what she used to score the pivotal catch against Kelly.
Look for Bastos to display a more aggressive submission-oriented approach this time around as she looks to cement her status as a pound-for-pound great.
#3 Kelly’s Counter-Submissions
The American sensation is an intuitive submission hunter from all positions, but against Bastos, she played a more defensively minded game than fans are accustomed to.
In the rematch, Kelly should welcome her opponent’s advances and use them against her to attack with submissions – particularly leg locks – of her own.
With her complex open guard that relies on near-constant inversions, Bastos often leaves her ankles exposed for potential counter-submissions. That’s when Kelly should pounce with submission threats.
#4 Bastos Securing The Top Position
While she is best known for her berimbolos and back-takes, Bastos would be smart to take and maintain the top position whenever possible.
In her first meeting with Kelly, the 27-year-old superstar very briefly took the top position with a beautiful sweep but soon allowed her foe to scramble back to the feet.
Bastos is an excellent guard passer when she commits to keeping the top position, often suffocating her opponents with simple but effective pressure passes.
If she’s able to sweep to the top position again, Bastos must work hard to keep Kelly on her back as she aims to secure a pass, establish a dominant position, and, ultimately, score the submission finish.
