Smilla Sundell to Defend Strawweight Muay Thai Title Against Natalia Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 22

Smilla Sundell, the reigning ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion, is set to defend her title vs rising star Natalia Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 22 on May 3 in Bangkok, Thailand. The highly anticipated matchup between the two knockout artists will take place at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, known as the Mecca of Muay Thai.

Sundell, a 19-year-old Swedish fighter, has dominated her previous four promotional fights and is coming off a successful title defense against Allycia Hellen Rodrigues. She boasts an impressive promotional record of 3-0 in Muay Thai and 1-0 in kickboxing, including two wins for the ONE women's strawweight world title. Sundell has also expressed interest in potentially fighting Ekaterina Vandaryeva and Jackie Buntan in the future.

Diachkova, nicknamed the "Karelian Lynx," has impressed in her first four appearances with ONE Championship. The Russian fighter made her ONE debut in April 2023 with a win over Thai standout Dokmaipa Fairtex. She has since secured three more victories, including two first-round knockouts over Lena Locker and Hannah Brady, to establish herself as a legitimate title contender.

Why this matters: This fight represents a significant moment for women's Muay Thai, as two of the sport's rising stars collide for the prestigious ONE Championship title. The outcome could shape the future of the strawweight division and potentially set up high-profile matchups for the winner.

The upcoming fight is expected to be a tough challenge for Diachkova, as Sundell has faced much tougher competition within the promotion. Sundell has a proven track record in Muay Thai, having defeated the likes of Diandra Martin, Jackie Buntan, and Allycia Hellen Rodrigues. ONE Fight Night 22 will feature various action-packed matchups and can be watched live and for free by North American viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription. The winner of this highly anticipated bout will leave as the undisputed ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion.

Key Takeaways

• Smilla Sundell defends ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai title vs Natalia Diachkova on May 3.
• Sundell, 19, is 3-0 in Muay Thai, 1-0 in kickboxing, with 2 title wins.
• Diachkova, "Karelian Lynx", is 4-0 in ONE with 2 first-round KOs.
• Fight represents a key moment for women's Muay Thai, with title implications.
• ONE Fight Night 22 can be watched live and for free by North American viewers with Amazon Prime.