Hawaiian grappling specialist Teshya Alo expressed excitement about facing Helena Crevar in their highly anticipated bantamweight submission grappling clash at ONE Fight Night 39: Rambolek vs. Dayakaev on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Teshya Alo, the 28-year-old Honolulu native jumped at the chance to compete against the best pound-for-pound female submission grappler in the world today and believes she holds some distinct advantages over the Austin-based prodigy, thanks to her decorated wrestling background.
Teshya Alo identified standing positions as the 18-year-old Crevar’s potential weakness, but above all, she also predicted a captivating 10-minute war where she feels each athlete will find multiple opportunities to finish the other.
Hawaiian Veteran Teshya Alo Jumped at Opportunity to Face Crevar
Teshya Alo remembers when she was first offered the bout last year.
As she was getting ready to head out to Island Jiu-Jitsu in her native Hawaii for a training session, her phone rang. It was her professor, who informed her about the opportunity to compete against one of submission grappling’s greatest young talents in a rematch she has wanted for years. The 28-year-old was thrilled to get the call, and she expressed genuine admiration for Crevar’s accomplishments.
“Well, honestly, I got a call from my professor, and he said, ‘Do you want to fight Helena?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, duh, who wouldn’t want to fight her? She’s amazing,'” Teshya Alo recalled.
The pair previously competed approximately three years ago during their colored belt days at a no-gi tournament, with Crevar securing victory via penalty in a shorter five or six-minute match.
Teshya Alo Believes Judo & Wrestling Background Gives Her An Advantage
Analyzing the stylistic matchup, the Hawaiian admitted Crevar may hold the advantage when it comes to her own power, but she also pointed to her extensive wrestling and judo background as an x factor.
Alo suggested that standing positions might provide advantages given her decorated wrestling credentials against the Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu representative.
“I honestly think her strength – she’s overall [very] strong. But if I were to pick a position where I don’t feel like she’s her strongest, [it’s] maybe standing. That’s only because I’m talking from a wrestling perspective. She’s obviously a jiu-jitsu [fighter], a grappler. So that would be the only thing,” Alo said.
Crevar earned her black belt in June 2025 after dominating competition across multiple belt levels, capturing numerous IBJJF World and Pan Championships before her historic ADCC World Championship silver medal as a 17-year-old. The teenager’s recent 2025 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship gold medal in the black belt category shows her technical excellence and finishing ability against world-class opposition.
Expect A High-Level Grappling Showcase
Looking ahead to their ONE Championship debut clash, Teshya Alo predicted an action-packed encounter featuring multiple submission attempts from both competitors. The Hawaiian grappler framed the matchup as two passionate athletes showcasing their skills on the sport’s biggest platform.
“This fight is gonna end with many opportunities for both of us. It’s gonna be a very exciting match. It’s gonna be two really high-level athletes just doing what they love, because at the end of the day, we’re just two girls on a big mat doing jiu-jitsu,” Alo said.
Teshya Alo’s three 2025 ADCC Open Championships validate her credentials as a dangerous opponent capable of threatening even the most hyped prospects with her diverse grappling background combining judo throws, wrestling takedowns, and submission skills.
ONE Fight Night 39 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, January 23. 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.
