Smilla Sundell is primed to get a shot at the belt she didn’t get the chance to defend last time out in ONE Championship, and she has a good idea of who deserves to be right there with her. The Swedish Muay Thai kickboxer is hell-bent on making it big in her career and seems like her next opponent might give her what she wants.
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“The Hurricane” is fresh off snapping Natalia Diachkova’s dominant run in the promotion at ONE Fight Night 22 earlier this month, but the win was bittersweet.
Smilla Sundell is determined to reclaim the title
She was stripped of the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in the leadup to what was originally scheduled as a battle for the gold after failing to pass ONE’s required weight and hydration level.
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The Swedish phenom went on to win nonetheless, and ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said he wanted to give her a chance to reclaim the strap shortly after, which was music to Sundell’s ears.
“I appreciate that. I messed up this weight cut, but I was very hydrated. I think just more notice for the next one, and I think I can come back,” she said in an interview with Sportskeeda. Sundell has dominated every competitor put in front of her through five outings in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and she’s excited by the prospect of meeting a new opponent.
Sundell vs. Vandaryeva for the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title
Well, the Swedish phenomenon is looking forward to fighting and when it comes to who she’d like it to be, she has a name in mind. “I think Ekaterina (Vandaryeva) won her last fight, and I haven’t fought her yet, so maybe that can be something,” she said.
Vandaryeva has become known for putting on a show whenever she fights. Though she has come out on the wrong side of a couple of decisions in ONE, she never turns down a chance to impress, which was none more evident than in her latest win over Martyna Kierczynska at ONE Fight Night 20 this past March.
The Belarusian striker is a veteran with 20 victories on her professional slate, and she would surely give Sundell a tough challenge if they came to collide for the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.