Two-sport ONE World Champion Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger marched into ONE Fight Night 46 bearing the absolute weight of two divisional crowns on her shoulders and soaring expectations of an entire nation.
She carried them beautifully, decimating dangerous Russian challenger Natalia “Karelian Lynx” Diachkova via knockout in the third round to make a commanding first defense of her ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title. The spectacular finish went down inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, August 14, airing live in U.S. primetime on Prime Video.
As dramatic as the conclusion was, Hemetsberger met immediate resistance from her dangerous World Title challenger. Riding a blistering string of knockouts, a fearless Diachkova pushed the opening pace in a frantic bid to overwhelm the reigning monarch with heavy punch combinations.
However, the 27-year-old has been in the wringer before. Showcasing the disciplined composure of a warrior, Hemetsberger weathered the early aggression with an unwavering belief in her superior striking.
The Salzburg native said:
“Honestly, (I’m) not really surprised. We made sure we are ready for whatever comes, just to fight our fight, execute our game plan — not her game plan.
“I’m very happy that I could let my performance speak in the ring. Like I said before the fight, she is a good fighter, but I showed that I was better today.”
After two testy frames of carefully picking precise counters, the decisive moment arrived with startling suddenness in round three for the two-sport queen.
Hemetsberger uncorked a debilitating left kick into Diachkova’s liver, landing flush with pinpoint accuracy. The Russian’s body buckled instantly, and moments later that identical kick found its mark once more before a final devastating flurry sealed the victory.
She said:
“I just tried to listen to my corner, and they were calling for the body, so that’s what I tried to execute. I’ll have to rewatch it because it’s definitely very unreal to me, but I guess it’s the best one yet.”
The emphatic title defense earned Hemetsberger a richly deserved US$50,000 performance bonus, keeping her perfect under the ONE banner at 6-0 while elevating her overall professional record to a gleaming 11-1.
For Hemetsberger, finishes are never chased — only earned. Trusting that unforced action yields far greater results, “Always Hungry” delivered a complete striking clinic under the global spotlight and radiated pure satisfaction.
She added:
“I’m feeling amazing, very good day in the office. My #1 goal is always to put on a good fight, put on a good performance, and get out with the win.
“And if the knockout comes, it comes. And that just is like the cherry on top and makes the win even sweeter.”
Two-Sport Queen Hemetsberger Eyes What Comes Next
With the title defense emphatically secured, a third meeting between Stella Hemetsberger and former ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan naturally enters the conversation.
A combined 10 fiercely contested rounds across two disciplines have defined their careers in ONE. While the double-champ views the matchup with genuine respect and quiet confidence, she freely admits the appeal of a fresh challenger.
The Phuket Fight Club and RS-GYM product acknowledged:
“Honestly, after 2-0, I guess we do have a dominant direction in that matter of that rivalry. But Jackie is a good fighter; I guess she’s gonna fight again in ONE, and we’ll see about that.
“So maybe in the future at some point, but right now after the 2 and 0, maybe some other opponent next.”
By achieving two-sport supremacy against all odds, Hemetsberger has undeniably cemented herself among the best female strikers on the planet. Naturally, fans wonder if those world-class skills might eventually translate to mixed martial arts, sparking comparisons to the historic three-sport run of Stamp Fairtex.
For now, however, the dual champion remains wholly committed to the immense responsibility of defending her 26 pounds of gold across Muay Thai and kickboxing while savoring her latest career-defining triumph.
Hemetsberger said:
“MMA is not on the plan right now. I like to focus on the two disciplines I’m doing already. Never say never, but right now it’s not on the plan.
“I’m happy to fight whoever comes up. Maybe we’ll go for the kickboxing one again next. Whatever happens, right now I just want to enjoy that win, and we’ll see about what comes next after that.”