Smilla Sundell and Natalia Diachkova were in attendance at ONE Championship’s latest event this past weekend to start building hype for their recently announced World Title title at ONE Fight Night 22, which is set to go down on Friday, May 3, inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The pair faced off in the middle of the ring at ONE Fight Night 21 to promote their battle for Sundell’s ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship at next month’s show. In their first opportunity to come face to face, the women were joined by ONE commentator Mitch Chilson to talk about their upcoming match. 

Smilla Sundell on defending her title

Sundell said she is looking forward to showcasing her talents on the biggest stage yet for her in ONE Championship. “(I’m) very excited to defend my belt here at Lumpinee next month,” she told Chilson. “It’s my first time being in the main event, and I want to make it rain gold on me.” 

The battle will be the Swedish sensation’s second World Title defense, and she is not taking her opponent lightly. Sundell offered her quick thoughts on Diachkova, sharing what she thinks makes her dangerous. “She’s very strong. She’s got very good boxing, and she comes out of nowhere with her back twists and back kicks,” she said.

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For her part, Diachkova outlined how she has embraced the opportunity to compete for the top prize of the division as if it were an inevitability. When asked what she thought when she got the call, she simply said: ”I was in Bangkok the next morning, so I was ready.” 

The Russian striker racked off four straight wins in the ONE Friday Fights series and earned a six-figure contract to compete at ONE Championship’s biggest shows. 

Diachkova wants her own belt too

Ultimately focused on her goal, Diachkova said she refused to take promotional photos with a generic belt as she is determined to get her own. “Sorry guys, I’m not going to tell you my plan. I’m going to say, hard work. I got to work, same as usual.”

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“I’m going to try to take the belt, but at the same time, I didn’t take any pictures with the belt because I want to get my own and take pictures with my own belt. So let’s see,” she said. After their respective interviews, the two women squared off, allowing them to size each other up for the first time. In a little under a month, they will be back in the Lumpinee ring to exchange blows and battle for the gold.

Smilla Sundell to Put World Title on the Line at ONE Fight Night 22 Against Natalia Diachkova