‘Always A Submission’ — Helena Crevar Hunting Another Finish Against Paige Ivette Clymer At The Inner Circle 22

Submission grappling’s pound-for-pound queen Helena Crevar dazzled the world in her global stage debut, and she is already plotting an even more commanding encore.

The 19-year-old phenom squares off against American debutant Paige Ivette Clymer in a 10-minute openweight submission grappling contest at The Inner Circle 22, streaming exclusively for members on live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17.

Crevar’s inaugural ONE appearance left absolutely no room for debate. The Las Vegas native needed just 100 seconds to dismantle Teshya Noelani Alo with a slick Estima lock at ONE Fight Night 39 last January, setting an impossibly high bar for her sophomore outing. 

However, her upcoming adversary brings serious credentials and an imposing physical presence. A 2026 ADCC West Coast Trials winner and black belt under Keenan Cornelius at Legion American Jiu-Jitsu, Clymer is an all-action force with a game built specifically to break people. 

Crevar has never shied away from a physical challenge, and Clymer’s stature adds an entirely new dimension to what is already a fascinating stylistic matchup. 

She said:

“She’s a super accomplished athlete. I believe she medaled at No-Gi Worlds, and she also won the recent ADCC trials. So I know that she’s a super tough athlete. Her game might be a little similar to Teshya’s, playing top and everything.

“Last time, I was the heavier athlete. This time, she will probably be heavier. But I’ll still focus on playing my game and looking for the submission wherever I can get it, because my game is very submission-oriented.”

Despite Clymer’s physical attributes, Crevar greets the challenge without a trace of concern. Under the tutelage of legendary coach John Danaher, the Texas-based athlete has built the technical foundation and unshakeable confidence to handle whatever is thrown at her. 

Surrounded daily by some of the finest grapplers on the planet at Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, including submission grappling icon Gordon Ryan, Crevar has continued adding dangerous new layers to an already formidable game. 

Crevar said:

“The preparation hasn’t been much different. I’ve competed against bigger people in the past. It’s really just about trying to improve my techniques and using them to work with bigger and stronger people.

“I’m lucky that I have a lot of bigger training partners at the gym, so I’ve been going with as many bigger people as I can. People that can challenge me with both the strength and the technical aspects.”

Grinding out points has never been Crevar’s style, making ONE’s submission-focused format a natural fit. 

Now, the grappling world watches intently to see if she can raise that bar once more against a considerably stiffer test. 

She declared:

“It’s always a submission from me. In any position we end up in, I’ll try to get the submission and win that way. I’m going to keep looking to get my second submission at ONE.”

Crevar Eyes ONE World Title Shot, Embraces Pound-For-Pound Crown

At an age when most competitors are still finding their footing, Helena Crevar already occupies a position in the sport that veterans spend entire careers chasing. 

As the youngest podium placer in ADCC history, a 2025 IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, and the owner of an astonishing 355-7 career record, her accolades read like a lifetime retrospective. 

What makes the generational talent truly remarkable is how effortlessly she carries those expectations without ever flinching under the weight. 

She shared:

“To be the youngest #1 pound-for-pound female grappler right now is really big for me. I want to maintain that spot, and ONE Championship motivates me to get my name out there and prove that even at such a young age, I can be the best female grappler there is.

“For me, it’s not pressure. It’s motivation. I’m so young, so I have a lot of time to accomplish so many things, but if I can do it earlier, it’s better.”

The ONE Women’s Submission Grappling World Title sits firmly at the top of Crevar’s ambitions. A second dominant finish against Paige IvetteClymer on July 17 would make her case for 26 pounds of gold absolutely impossible to ignore. 

Yet the teenage sensation approaches the climb to the summit with a patience and maturity that completely belies her age. 

Crevar concluded:

“I still definitely want that opportunity for a title. We’ll see after this match and talk about whether I’ll have an opportunity to go for the ONE [World] Title, or maybe do one more match and then a title after that. But that is definitely the goal: to get the title at ONE.

“I don’t feel the pressure. I just feel motivated to keep going and keep getting as many wins as possible.”

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