Eighteen-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prodigy Helena Crevar analyzed her upcoming bantamweight submission grappling showdown against fellow American Teshya Noelani Alo at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Helena Crevar expressed confidence in her ability to submit the 28-year-old Honolulu native, who brings three 2025 ADCC Open Championships, as well as her extensive judo and wrestling credentials, into this highly anticipated ONE Championship debut clash.
The teenage sensation became the youngest ADCC World Championship podium finisher at just 17 years old with her 2024 silver-medal performance. In addition, Crevar earned her black belt in 2025 and submitted all of her opponents en route to the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi World Title, establishing herself as one of the top pound-for-pound submission grapplers in the scene today.
Helena Crevar Recalls First Encounter With Alo During Colored Belt Days
Reflecting on their previous meeting approximately three years ago during a no-gi tournament, Helena Crevar acknowledged that both herself and Alo have evolved significantly since their initial match. The American prodigy revealed that she secured victory through a penalty in what she remembered as a shorter five or six-minute match.
“We competed once. I won the match by a penalty against her, but it was also a much shorter match, I believe, five or six minutes. So, I’m sure both of us have improved a lot since then. A lot has changed,” Helena Crevar explained.
The acknowledgment that both grapplers have improved substantially since their first meeting shows respect while recognizing that their ONE Championship debuts represent an entirely different competitive landscape.
Teen Star Helena Crevar Details Evolution of Submission Preferences
Discussing her technical development over recent years, Helena Crevar revealed focused efforts on improving her leg attack game while maintaining her longtime preference for choke submissions. The prodigy highlighted the rear-naked choke as a particularly favored technique throughout her BJJ journey.
“The past couple of years, I have been focusing a lot on improving my leg locks. So, I’d say some of those have been my favorites. But always since I started jiu-jitsu, I always liked chokes, specifically the rear-naked choke,” Crevar said.
The combination of dangerous leg attacks and proven choking ability creates multiple finishing threats that force opponents to defend across all positions. Alo presents formidable challenges with her multi-time junior national judo championship credentials and veteran wrestling background.
Teen Star Helena Crevar Predicts Aggressive Match with Submission Finish
Looking ahead to their ONE Championship match, Helena Crevar anticipated an action-packed encounter featuring both competitors seeking offensive positions and submission attempts. The teenage black belt expressed supreme confidence in her skills while predicting she would secure a finish during the 10-minute bout.
“I expect a tough match, both of us going in and trying to attack each other. I definitely believe in my skills the most, so I’m sure that I could finish the match with a submission,” Helena Crevar said.
The bold prediction reveals her mindset while acknowledging Alo’s legitimate threats as a proven competitor with diverse grappling credentials. The stylistic clash between Crevar’s technical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mastery and Alo’s explosive judo and wrestling expertise promises compelling submission grappling action, with both Americans seeking statement victories in their promotional debuts.
ONE Fight Night 39 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, January 24. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
