“My Prediction Is Still Stella Hemetsberger”: ONE World Champion Eyes Successful Title Defense

Reigning two-sport ONE World Champion Stella Hemetsberger is confident of retaining her ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title when she faces Russian challenger Natalia Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 46 on August 15.

The Austrian champion will headline the event at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium as she prepares for the first defence of the Muay Thai crown she won earlier this year. Hemetsberger enters the contest with a 10-1 professional record and an unbeaten 5-0 record in ONE Championship.

Despite the threat posed by Diachkova, Hemetsberger remains unfazed about how the contest could unfold and is backing herself to come out on top.

“It doesn’t matter whether the finish comes. If the knockout comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But my prediction is, and still, Stella Hemetsberger,” she said.

Hemetsberger’s rise to the top began in ONE Friday Fights, where she recorded three successive victories before earning a US$100,000 main-roster contract. She then captured the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title after defeating former kickboxing champion Jackie Buntan in a five-round battle.

The Austrian subsequently returned to face Buntan, this time challenging for the kickboxing title. A split-decision victory made Hemetsberger a two-sport ONE World Champion.

Heading into her first Muay Thai title defence, however, Hemetsberger is refusing to become overly focused on securing a knockout. Instead, she wants to produce a complete performance and adapt to whatever Diachkova brings.

“The goal of this fight is just to put on a good performance and come out on top. Whether it’ll be me outworking her over five rounds and showing my technical game, or finishing early, I’ll definitely be ready for everything,” she said.

The champion also believes her durability and experience in championship-level bouts give her an added advantage. Hemetsberger has never been knocked out during her professional career, a record that has strengthened her confidence ahead of another major test.

“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. I would say I just have the right healthy amount of confidence as always,” Hemetsberger added.

With her first title defence approaching, Hemetsberger will look to extend her unbeaten ONE Championship record and further establish herself as one of the promotion’s leading two-sport champions.