SUMMARY
- Smilla Sundell lost her strawweight Muay Thai title after missing weight ahead of ONE Fight Night 22.
- After beating Natalia Diachkova at the event, she has vowed to regain the title.
Smilla Sundell is hellbent on getting her ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title back. Despite losing her crown due to a weight miss ahead of the ONE Fight Night 22 main event this past weekend, “The Hurricane” reminded the world once again of her position at the top of the division with a crushing second-round TKO win over Russian knockout artist Natalia Diachkova.
Sundell withstood a first-round barrage from Diachkova at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 3. The Swedish ace showed her championship heart by turning the tide but, post-fight, she admitted that it was the biggest test of her career to date.
“Yeah, it’s one of my biggest challenges,” she said.
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“I’ve been very sad [to lose the belt]. But I’ve had many people online, on social media [who have] been supporting me. And it meant a lot to me. It kept me going today. She got me good in the first round, so I knew I couldn’t stop there, because I had my family around me, and I wanted to show them that I’m still the best.”
Now, all she wants is the 26-pound gold belt to show for it.
Smilla Sundell doesn’t care who she has to go through to get belt back
After taking out Natalia Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 22, former ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Smilla Sundell is ready to face whoever she must in the quest for redemption.
“It doesn’t matter who I fight. I just love fighting. So yeah, anyone who steps into the ring with me,” she said.
“I really want my belt back. Yeah, that’s what I want. I need maybe at least two months’ notice. I just need a longer time to prepare. But I will get it back. I also want another weight division.”
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Still only 19 years old, Sundell’s recent growth spurt has made it increasingly difficult for her to make the 115-pound strawweight limit. With no women’s flyweight Muay Thai division currently established in ONE Championship, the young superstar remains confident that she can make the weight with enough notice in the meantime.