Danielle Kelly has signed a European contract with Polaris that will begin in 2026 and cover multiple matches, marking one of the promotion’s biggest announcements for the upcoming year.
The move significantly boosts Polaris’ women’s roster, adding one of the most popular and accomplished female grapplers in the sport.
Kelly has long been a fan favorite in Jiu-Jitsu, but her profile rose even higher when she signed with ONE Championship in 2022.
During her time there, she made history by winning the inaugural atomweight submission grappling title at ONE Fight Night 14, becoming the promotion’s first-ever female champion.
Although she later lost the belt in her first defense to Mayssa Bastos, Kelly remains an important figure in the sport’s history.
Despite her landmark achievement, Kelly’s relationship with ONE ultimately soured due to inconsistent matchmaking.
With opponents hard to come by, she requested her release, which the promotion granted.
Her new deal with Polaris offers a different opportunity.
The UK-based organization runs multiple events annually and has active female divisions across several weight classes, ensuring Kelly regular competition against elite opponents.
Importantly, Polaris contracts also allow athletes to compete elsewhere, meaning Kelly will still be free to take matches on major international stages such as Who’s Number One.
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