ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: SWEDISH CHAMPION SMILLA SUNDELL BACK IN RING AFTER 8 MONTH BREAK DUE TO FIGHT CANCELLATIONS

The strawweight Muay Thai title-holder was offered a fight with English fighter Iman Barlow, who retired instead
Sundell also saw a title fight with Jackie Buntan fall through at the last minute last year

After an eight-month absence, Smilla Sundell will defend her strawweight Muay Thai title for the second time next month when she faces Natalya Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 22.

Sundell should have been much more active, with this being only her first fight of 2024.

The Swedish champion was offered a fight against Iman Barlow, for one, but the English fighter decided to hang up her gloves instead.

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"I signed a contract to fight her and I was looking forward to fighting her before she retired but I wish her a happy retirement," Sundell told the Post.

Sundell also saw a title fight with Jackie Buntan fall through at the last minute last year. On that occasion, ONE Championship was able to find a quick replacement, with atomweight champion Allycia Rodrigues stepping up to take her on.

Sundell made short work of the Brazilian, as she did Milana Bjelogrlic in a non-title kickboxing bout a few months earlier, when she won with a clear-cut decision victory.

Sundell is happy to be back in action after the extended break, and might have been more active if ONE Championship hadn't persisted with trying to make the fight with Barlow.

"I had a few offers with her back in 2023 and this year too but I heard that she already retired back in October or November. Maybe there was a miscommunication there, I don't know," Sundell said.

Her upcoming opponent, Diachkova, has won four fights out of four on the ONE Lumpinee series, with three of those victories coming in the opening round.

Sundell said she had great respect for the Russian, whom she describes as "tough".

"It's been eight months now, so I'm excited to get back in the ring. I'm excited to fight Natalia - she's had a good win streak in ONE Lumpinee - but I think all my fights are tough."

The Swedish teenager is one of the tallest fighters in the strawweight division. She has overwhelmed smaller opponents with her clinch game and knees but has been working on some other aspects of the Muay Thai game ahead of her second title defence.

"I've been working on everything but my sharpest weapon right now is my boxing."

She has also been taking some tips from one of the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighters on the planet, Tawanchai PK Saenchaigym, whom she met during a recent trip to Bangkok.

"Sparring with Tawanchai was very fun but it was just play sparring, nothing hard," said Sundell, to whom the reigning ONE Championship featherweight Muay Thai champion showed some new tricks.

"He's a nice guy outside the ring, he's got some great techniques that he showed me. He's just a very good fighter, his mentality is very strong and his body is strong too. I picked up a few tips, he showed me a fancy teep [frontal kick] and I will try to use it."

While Barlow's retirement means that one potential fight is off the table, Sundell feels there are three opponents she would like to face.

"Ekaterina (Vandaryeva) is a good fighter and Martyna (Kierczyńska) too. Jackie (Buntan) is always up there."

The list of atomweights is a little longer, although few of them would be keen to take on an opponent of Sundell's size and stature.

There is one fighter in that division, though, the Swedish teenager has been following for several years.

"Phetjeeja (Lukjaoporongtom) was my first idol in the sport because I watched her on Thai Fight in Samui when my family moved to Thailand.

"That was the first time I saw a big show live, and it was, like, 'woah, she's good'. I looked up to her then and I look up to her even more now - she's strong."

Sundell was just 12 when she saw Phetjeeja fight in Koh Samui for the first time, and her idol would have become her direct rival by now were it not for the 4.5-kilogram weight difference between the two.

Sundell became the youngest title holder in ONE Championship history when she won the belt in 2022 and is still in her teenage years. The Swedish fighter is only getting better and it sounds like opponents aren't exactly queuing up to face her.

She was clearly disappointed that Barlow decided to retire rather than face her, but Sundell believes there is still plenty of talent at her weight on ONE Championship's roster.

"I think all of the girls are improving. If you go to the gym every day, you get better."

Diachkova did at least answer the call and will headline ONE Fight Night 22 with Sundell at Lumpinee Stadium next month.

And waiting in the wings will be the likes of Buntan and Vandaryeva. Sundell just hopes they do not decide to retire before getting to face her.