Stella Hemetsberger made history once already in 2025. Now Austria’s first ONE Championship titleholder wants to join the promotion’s most exclusive club.
The ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion challenges Jackie Buntan for the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hemetsberger leads their rivalry after delivering a five-round performance against the Filipino-American at ONE Fight Night 35 last September. She dropped Buntan twice in the opening round with short counters that shifted momentum completely. The unanimous decision secured her place in Austrian combat sports history. Her 9-1 professional record speaks to rapid development.
But the 27-year-old refuses to walk into Bangkok overconfident despite proving she can beat Buntan. Champions adjust after losses. The RS-Gym and Phuket Fight Club representative expects an improved and motivated Buntan hunting to reclaim the psychological edge. That reality keeps her grounded during a meticulous nine-week camp in Phuket focused entirely on kickboxing style.
Training under Kru Farsahtan, boxing coach Gabriel Iuri, and strength coach Robert Eckschlager, she’s sharpened every tool. The preparation mirrors her Muay Thai camps with tactical adjustments for kickboxing’s different rhythm. Peak condition arrived right on schedule.
“I’ve spent most of the fight camp here in Phuket Fight Club,” she said. “Altogether, by the time of the fight, it should be nine weeks here. We’ve been focusing on kickboxing style, but my training routine is kind of similar to all of my Muay Thai camps. The key coaches for this camp have been my Muay Thai coach, Kru Farsahtan, our boxing coach here, Gabriel Iuri, and my strength and conditioning coach back home, Robert Eckschlager. They’ve all made sure I’m in peak condition for this fight.”
Stella Hemetsberger sees versatility as her biggest weapon
Hemetsberger’s motivation doesn’t require complex explanation. Two-sport champion status represents the ultimate validation across disciplines. Only two women captured world titles in multiple striking arts under ONE Championship’s banner. The Austrian could join Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd in that exclusive territory.
The dream fuels every moment of this grueling camp. Becoming Austria’s first ONE champion meant everything. Adding a second belt in a different discipline would cement her legacy as elite across multiple martial arts. That image plays constantly in her mind.
“I’m really excited to show my skills to the world and absolutely happy that I have another massive chance to show my abilities in another discipline,” she said. “Above everything else, becoming a two-sport World Champion is my main motivation for this fight. It’ll be nice to have another beautiful belt. I’m not visualizing too much, but yeah, the ideal process is my hand getting raised at the end of all of it again.”
Hemetsberger expects a different Buntan from the one she faced last September. That opening round where she scored two knockdowns changed everything. Kickboxing rules fundamentally alter the approach. The 27-year-old prepares for another tough fight regardless of her previous success.
Victory matters more than method. A knockout would be ideal. But dominating across five rounds works just as well. What gives her confidence is versatility. Her Muay Thai sharpness enhances her kickboxing arsenal. Her kickboxing precision complements traditional clinch work. Everything works together.
“My advantage in kickboxing is my versatility,” she said. “My kickboxing skills complement my Muay Thai game, and vice versa. I like to use my kicks. I like to use my hands, and I like to put all that together. So I think that will be my advantage over Jackie.”