Stella Hemetsberger Writes Austrian History With Two-Belt Glory At ONE Fight Night 40
The second belt felt different than the first. When Stella Hemetsberger stood inside Lumpinee Stadium with both the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Titles, the weight wasn’t just gold and leather — it represented a country’s first double champion, validation of a journey that started on the weekly grind of Friday Fights just months earlier.
“I feel amazing. I’m feeling incredible. In other words, it just feels amazing, incredible. Very happy, very happy,” Hemetsberger said after defeating Jackie Buntan by split decision at ONE Fight Night 40 to capture the kickboxing crown and join Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd as the only women to win ONE World Titles in two striking disciplines.
The 27-year-old Austrian’s path from European circuit fighter to two-sport champion compressed into late 2024’s three Friday Fights victories that earned her a $100,000 contract, followed by capturing the Muay Thai belt against Buntan in September with two first-round knockdowns, and now this — five rounds of sustained output that proved she belongs at the championship level regardless of ruleset.
The rematch required different execution than the first clash. No elbows. No clinching. Just 15 minutes of kickboxing where hand speed, combinations, and championship-round conditioning determined outcomes. Buntan brought pressure through sharp striking, but Hemetsberger answered with measured counters, body kicks, and steady combinations that never wavered even when fatigue became a factor.
“It was different. In the first fight, I managed to get the two knockdowns in the first round, which determined the fight,” Hemetsberger explained. “This fight, I think I managed to put on a good five-round fight and stay good until the end, showing my skill set again. It was a different fight from the first fight because in the first fight the knockdowns had a big influence in the fight, but I think in this fight I could show that over five rounds, I was the better fighter.”
Five rounds. Two rulesets. Same result. That consistency matters when carrying two belts means defending two divisions against challengers who’ve waited months or years for their opportunities. Hemetsberger’s focus shifted immediately from rivalry to responsibility, from proving herself against Buntan to maintaining standards across weight classes.
“I’ll defend whatever. But I felt really good in kickboxing again today. I really like kickboxing rules. I like Muay Thai as well,” she said. “We’ll see about the future, but I felt good in kickboxing. I like kickboxing, but being a double champ, we’ll see what comes next.”
The Austrian champion refused to call out specific names or force narratives about trilogy fights or new challengers. Anyone who steps forward earns their shot through merit, not social media campaigns or political maneuvering. That approach reflects someone who climbed from Friday Fights obscurity to double-champion status through performances rather than promotions.
“I don’t like to call out any names. I think anyone who will come along my way to fight me, to challenge me for the belt will be a strong challenge for sure,” Hemetsberger noted. “There are no easy fights as a champion. We’ll see whatever comes, I’ll put in the work and put on another great fight again.”
But beyond personal achievement, beyond two-belt glory, beyond even joining Stamp and Todd in exclusive company, Hemetsberger’s triumph carries national weight. Austria’s first ONE Championship fighter became Austria’s first ONE World Champion became Austria’s first double champion. Each milestone rewrote what’s possible for combat sports athletes from a country without deep striking traditions.
“Big thank you to everyone back home – my team back home, my friends back home, the police supporting me along my career. And every single person in Austria,” Hemetsberger said. “We’ve made history in general, being the first Austrian fighter in ONE Championship, becoming the first Austrian champion, and becoming the first Austrian double champion, we’ve written history. It makes me very happy to represent such a small country that’s not that big on the fighting world on the global stage and make people more aware of Austria, as well.”
From Friday Fights grinder to two-sport champion in months. From European circuit obscurity to global recognition across two divisions. That’s not just individual excellence. That’s national validation that Austria belongs in conversations about striking excellence alongside Thailand, the Netherlands, and everywhere else that produces championship-caliber talent.
READ MORE: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Announced as the Biggest Super Fight in Women’s Combat Sports History
Recent posts
