At 19 years previous, Helena Intelligent is already the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound feminine grappler, a recognition she’s earned all through her profession, however she’s nonetheless pursuing greater and higher targets.
Already undefeated in 2026 with all submission wins, her subsequent problem shall be shifting up in weight at ONE Championship on Friday to face Web page Clymer in a high-profile bout on the Inside Circle from Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok. Whereas that is all on her thoughts proper now, Intelligent admits there are nonetheless mountains to overcome for the remainder of the 12 months.
“I wish to compete in a ONE Championship match and hopefully at the least yet another ONE Championship this 12 months and win a world title at ADCC,” Klever instructed MMA Combating about his 2026 targets.
“Then you may go to both the World Championships or (Pan Am) or any of the tremendous fights you are able to do to win a title or defend a title and keep as lively as potential.”
As the primary girl to earn her black belt from famed teacher John Danaher and prepare below arguably the GOAT of grappling, Gordon Ryan, Klever might be already one of many largest stars in grappling.
However Klever is aware of there’s all the time a manner to attract extra consideration to his sport. That is why she’s open to inviting a cross-section of MMA’s largest names to problem her on the mat.
“Any MMA fighter that is highly regarded could be an excellent match, as a result of in the event that they’re highly regarded in MMA, it might be actually attention-grabbing for that pairing to be in a jiu-jitsu match and have a match in opposition to them,” Klever stated. “I don’t have anybody specifically, however I believe a few of them are going to be excellent.”
In fact, UFC ladies’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is without doubt one of the names that instantly involves thoughts, as she was a a number of grappling champion earlier than getting severe about MMA. One other is UFC Corridor of Famer Ronda Rousey, who was an Olympic bronze medalist in judo earlier than changing into the most important celebrity in ladies’s MMA historical past.
Present UFC ladies’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison gained two gold medals and furthered her Olympic profession earlier than turning to MMA.
To be clear, Klevar is not naming anybody, however he would not be in opposition to these matches if given the chance.
“It is all going to be plenty of enjoyable,” Intelligent stated. “Any present or finest feminine MMA fighter could be cool. I believe that may be actually nice for future superfights.”
Clearly, Intelligent is prone to have the benefit in any of those matches, however she is aware of it is actually only a signal of respect for the physique of labor she’s already put collectively in her profession.
Whether or not it is being an MMA celebrity or one other high grappling champion, Klever all the time expects to have large targets on her shoulders, however she embraces the position as the very best on this planet.
“For me, it’s motivation,” Klever stated. “As a result of I achieved the pound-for-pound No. 1 title final August. Having the ability to attain the highest at such a younger age actually motivates me and makes me wish to proceed to keep up that No. 1 place, maintain placing my title on the market, and continue to grow.”
“As a result of I am very younger and I’ve a few years forward of me. That motivates me to tackle all these challenges and profit from it.”
