Teen Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom Helena Crevar announced her arrival on the global stage at ONE Fight Night 39 in Bangkok, securing a submission victory in her promotional debut.
Crevar faced Hawaiian judoka Teshya Noelani Alo in what became an openweight grappling contest, applying an Estima lock that forced the tap just 1 minute and 40 seconds into the match. The dominant performance highlighted why the young competitor earned world championship honors at the IBJJF world championship the previous year.
However, the matchup encountered significant obstacles before the athletes even entered the competition area. The bout was originally scheduled for the bantamweight grappling division, but complications arose during the weigh-in process 36 hours before the event.
Crevar registered at 24 pounds (approximately 11 kilograms) over the agreed-upon limit, creating an immediate problem for organizers and both competitors.
With the teenager unable to reach the bantamweight requirement or negotiate an acceptable catchweight, officials and both athletes agreed to restructure the contest entirely. The solution turned the bout into an openweight clash, removing weight restrictions altogether and allowing the competition to proceed.
Coach and BJJ black belt Tom DeBlass talked about the controversy in a recent post. According to him, the contracted weight was 145 lbs (65.8 kg). Crevar arrived in Thailand weighing between 154 and 155 pounds after nearly 24 hours of travel.
By the following morning, she had reduced to 151 lbs (68.4 kg) and was on track to make weight. However, ONE Championship’s mandatory hydration testing, designed to prioritize athlete safety, significantly altered the situation.
Crevar failed her initial hydration test at 151 lbs, drank fluids as required, and still did not pass. To ensure she met hydration standards, she ultimately consumed nearly a gallon of water, which caused her weight to spike as high as 161 lbs (73.3 kg).
Despite the pre-event complications, Crevar wasted no time demonstrating her capabilities once the action began. She immediately leveraged her size advantage and technical experience against Alo, establishing control from the opening moments. The Estima lock, a sophisticated foot lock named after Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor Braulio Estima, proved the perfect technique to finish the contest decisively.
