SUMMARY
- Smilla Sundell and Natalia Diachkova will headline ONE Fight Night 22.
- The Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship fight will go down on May 3.
This weekend’s ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video main event features a stylistic bout that is best described as fan-friendly.
ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Smilla Sundell puts her 26-pound gold belt on the line against Russian destroyer Natalia Diachkova, and neither woman will take a backward step. Sundell, for her part, says that her will to win will be the difference when the ultra-aggressive pair clash at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 3.
“I like stopping people’s streaks. But I think I want this more than her, and that’s why I’ll come out on top,” she said.
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While the battle is likely to be one of wills, it will be a clash of skill in close quarters. Sundell’s punishing body attack will be key when she inevitably exchanges with Diachkova at punching range. The 19-year-old phenom favors the left hook to the body, and the weapon has caused problems for each of the foes that she has vanquished in her unbeaten four-fight run under the ONE banner.
Given her height, her step-up knees to the body could also be key to countering Diachkova as she looks to uncork powerful punches to the head. If Sundell can tie her foe up in the clinch, perhaps she can wear the challenger down with knees.
Natalia Diachkova thinks she can upset Smilla Sundell
Natalia Diachkova’s ferocious power punches will be key to her success when she faces Smilla Sundell in the ONE Fight Night 22 main event. Speaking to ONE ahead of the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title fight, “Karelian Lynx” predicted an early night at the office.
“I have many advantages. I am underestimated in the clinch and generally in everything that I have not yet had time to show. My advantages are my hard punches and working with combinations, as well as my experience,” she said.
“This is how the fight will go: I will follow the plan. I will remain focused and cold-blooded. I will fight smart. If I connect and hit her – and I will – I will finish her.”
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Diachkova has finished three of her four ONE opponents inside the first two minutes, and all the crushing knockouts came from punches. The 29-year-old Russian standout excels at close range, where she can pick her moment to land the piston-like right hand that has proven to be too much for each of her victims since making her ONE debut in 2023.
As Sundell looks to advance, as she so often does, Diachkova will look to catch her as she crosses through her punching range. If she is successful in doing so, we could have a new strawweight Muay Thai queen on May 3.
