Stella Hemetsberger Chases Two-Sport Glory Against Jackie Buntan In World Title Rematch
Stella Hemetsberger became Austria’s first ONE World Champion last September when she edged Jackie Buntan across five brutal rounds to claim the vacant Strawweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 35. The unanimous decision victory proved her striking credentials translated against elite American competition, establishing her as legitimate championship material on the global stage.
Now the 27-year-old Austrian arrives at ONE Fight Night 40 on February 13 at Lumpinee Stadium chasing history again — this time targeting two-sport glory by capturing Buntan’s ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. Victory would cement her legacy as one of the division’s most versatile threats, proving her skills transcend rule sets and discipline-specific advantages.
The preparation has been meticulous. Hemetsberger has spent nine weeks at Phuket Fight Club, the extended camp focusing specifically on kickboxing style while maintaining the foundation that made her Muay Thai dangerous. Her key coaches — Muay Thai mentor Kru Farsahtan, boxing coach Gabriel Iuri, and strength and conditioning specialist Robert Eckschlager back in Austria — ensured she enters peak condition for the most important fight of her career.
But the Salzburg native refuses to enter Muay Thai’s spiritual home overconfident despite already proving she can beat Buntan. Champions adjust, and Hemetsberger expects the Filipino-American to arrive improved and motivated to reclaim the psychological advantage. That reality keeps the RS-Gym representative grounded heading into their sequel.
“Of course, beating Jackie gave me confidence,” Hemetsberger admitted. “But I never get too confident in any position. This is a completely new fight for me. Jackie is a strong fighter, so I’m still very much aware that I have to put in the work to come out on top.”
The two-sport dream isn’t merely motivation — it’s the fuel powering every moment of this grueling camp. Hemetsberger understands what capturing kickboxing gold alongside her Muay Thai throne would mean for her legacy. It proves she’s elite across disciplines, that her striking brilliance isn’t limited to clinch work and traditional Thai techniques but translates seamlessly to pure kickboxing exchanges.
“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,” Hemetsberger 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.”
The Austrian expects a different Buntan from the one she defeated five months ago. That opening round where knockdowns shifted momentum completely remains fresh in both fighters’ minds. The kickboxing rule set also changes dynamics fundamentally, eliminating clinch opportunities that favored Hemetsberger’s traditional Thai background while emphasizing the faster pace and boxing combinations where Buntan theoretically holds advantages.
But Hemetsberger believes her versatility becomes her greatest weapon under kickboxing rules. Her Muay Thai sharpness enhances her kickboxing arsenal naturally, the two disciplines complementing each other rather than conflicting. She likes using her kicks, she likes using her hands, and she likes putting everything together in combinations that create puzzles opponents struggle solving.
“My advantage in kickboxing is my versatility,” Hemetsberger explained. “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.”
How victory materializes matters less than the outcome itself. Hemetsberger would love a knockout if the opportunity presents, the kind of spectacular finish that removes all doubt about superiority. But her main focus remains winning decisively across five rounds if necessary, proving she’s the better fighter regardless of whether the finish comes early or requires full championship distance.
The ideal ending sees her hand raised again, second belt secured, legacy cemented as one of the strawweight division’s most accomplished champions. Everything else is details.
“The ideal ending would always be a knockout, of course,” Hemetsberger said. “But my main focus is winning that fight and putting on a good performance. If the chance for a knockout comes in this fight, I’d be very happy. If not, my focus is on being the better fighter across five rounds.”
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