Smilla Sundell, the 19-year-old reigning ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion, is gearing up to defend her title against the formidable Russian fighter Natalia Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 22 on May 3rd.
Diachkova, also known as the ‘Karelian Lynx’, boasts an impressive five-fight winning streak, with four victories under the ONE Championship banner. Despite her challenger’s streak, Sundell is taking the upcoming bout seriously.
Smilla Sundell to Defend ONE Strawweight Muay Thai Title Against Natalia Diachkova
In an interview with Calf Kick Sports on YouTube, Sundell expressed her aspirations to venture into MMA, with a condition: she wants to secure the kickboxing belt first before transitioning to MMA.
Sundell aims to follow in the footsteps of her teammate, Stamp Fairtex, who holds belts across three different sports in ONE Championship.
Sundell is open to the idea of competing in mixed-rules bouts and possibly moving up in weight class.
She showcased her versatility last September at ONE Fight Night 14, where she defended her belt by defeating Allycia Hellen Rodrigues, who moved up in weight from atomweight in hopes of claiming a second division championship.
Looking ahead, Sundell envisions the possibility of a women’s flyweight Muay Thai division within the promotion, offering her another opportunity to showcase her skills.
Fans in North America can catch the action of ONE Fight Night 22 live on US Primetime via Prime Video, with no additional charge for existing subscribers.
