SUMMARY
- Natalia Diachkova will challenge Smilla Sundell for her Strawweight Muay Thai title at ONE Fight Night 22.
- Here are some of Diachkova’s performances that impressed the fans over the years.
Russian powerhouse Natalia Diachkova has left a trail of destruction on her way to a ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title shot. “Karelian Lynx” challenges divisional queen Smilla Sundell in the ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video headliner on May 3.
Ahead of the tantalising showdown at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Sundell gave her take on the challenge that Diachkova presents.
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“I watched all her Friday Fights. Very short finishes on most of them, so it’s very hard to say how it will be if it goes longer than one round. But yeah, she’s strong and has good boxing,” Sundell said.
Here are three of Diachkova’s knockouts that could send a shiver down the Swedish superstar’s spine.
Dokmaipa Fairtex – ONE Friday Fights 13
Diachkova made a statement in her first appearance under the ONE banner. Facing Thailand’s Dokmaipa, who hails from the famed Fairtex Training Center, Diachkova needed only 1:41 to show the world that she is a force to be reckoned with.
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Little more than a minute into the contest last April, the 29-year-old unleashed a furious flurry that sent Dokmaipa stumbling into the ropes. With her opponent in trouble, Diachkova continued the punching onslaught and sent Dokmaipa crashing to the canvas for the first and final time.
Lena Nocker – ONE Friday Fights 19
Diachkova then wasted no time continuing her impressive run. Just six weeks after her win over Dokmaipa, she needed less than two minutes to dispense Italy’s Lena Nocker.
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A piston-like straight right hand did the damage this time, sending Nocker to the canvas at the midpoint of the opening frame. Nocker courageously answered the referee’s count, before Diachkova swooped in to quickly close the show with another volley of punches.
Chellina Chirino – ONE Friday Fights 55
After a wild unanimous decision victory over Hannah Brady this past September, Diachkova ensured that the judges weren’t needed when she took on Chellina Chirino last month.
Netting her fourth-straight win, Diachkova’s devastating hands were on show once again in the first round. Another punch combination put Chirino down early and although the Dutch striker tried to get back to her feet, she soon stumbled back to the canvas as Diachkova’s power proved too much.
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Her third knockout improved her overall professional mark to 30-4 and earned her a six-figure contract with ONE Championship. Diachkova looms as a genuine threat to 19-year-old Sundell, who will have to be on her game early if she wants to retain the women’s strawweight Muay Thai strap.