ONE Championship

A perfect promotional record and a place among the sport’s most exclusive club are both on the line at once.

Stella Hemetsberger makes the first defense of her ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title against Natalia “Karelian Lynx” Diachkova in the main event of ONE Fight Night 46, broadcasting live on Prime Video from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, August 14. The 27-year-old Austrian beat Jackie Buntan twice within the past year to become just the third two-sport women’s World Champion in ONE Championship history, joining Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd.

Hemetsberger carries a flawless 5-0 record inside the promotion and an active seven-fight winning streak into the title defense. Diachkova, meanwhile, has bounced back from her only promotional defeat, a first Muay Thai title shot in 2024, with two consecutive wins, including a highlight-reel stoppage of Fahsai Aor Yutthachai at ONE Friday Fights 152.

“My mindset hasn’t changed. I’m always working hard, and my main goal is to become better, evolve, and get more skills as a fighter. Of course, I have two belts to defend, but the main goal is to give my best performance,” she said.

“My motto will be ‘Always Hungry.’ I am very, very hungry to win the fight and defend my belt.”

Stella Hemetsberger trusts championship experience

Both of Hemetsberger’s title-winning performances against Buntan went the full five-round distance, grueling tests of conditioning and composure that few first-time defending champions can claim on their resume. She has never been knocked out in her professional career.

Diachkova brings genuine power to the challenge, a threat Hemetsberger says her camp at Phuket Fight Club has prepared for specifically, without it shaking her overall confidence heading into Friday.

“Having won five rounds and never been knocked out once in any of my professional fights before gives me confidence. It shows my fighting heart and spirit,” she said.

“But that does not mean I take whatever awaits me lightly or with overconfidence. I would say I just have the right healthy amount of confidence as always.”

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM