Stella Hemetsberger Rules Out MMA, Stays True to Her Striking Sports After Electrifying Knockout

The reigning two-sport ONE World Champion defended her ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Title with a third-round body kick knockout of Natalia Diachkova in the main event of ONE Fight Night 46 on Friday, August 14.

In the process, she earned a US$50,000 performance bonus.

The finish came when the Austrian landed a crushing body kick that sent Diachkova stumbling toward the ring ropes. She followed immediately, landing another body kick before unleashing punches and a knee attack that prompted the referee to wave off the contest.

That victory extended Hemetsberger's unbeaten ONE Championship record to six consecutive wins and moved her career mark to 11-1.

Hemetsberger Calls It a Good Day in the Office

The champion absorbed the magnitude of what she had just delivered with characteristic composure. Hemetsberger framed the bonus-earning finish as a welcome addition to a performance that was always centered around something more fundamental.

"I'm feeling amazing, very good day in the office. My number one goal is always to put on a good fight, put on a good performance, and get out with the win. And if the knockout comes, it comes. And that just is like the cherry on top and makes the win even sweeter," Hemetsberger said.

Six straight ONE Championship victories and a body kick knockout in a world title defense is a very good day in the office by any measure. Diachkova stepped into the ring with four knockouts from her six ONE Championship victories and a hunger to make history for Russia, but Hemetsberger's technical execution across three rounds produced the most clinical performance of her title reign.

The Austrian Credits Her Corner for Fight-Ending Kick at ONE Fight Night 46

The specificity of how the finish came together tells the story of a champion and coaching team operating in perfect sync. Hemetsberger gave full credit to the corner call that produced the fight-ending body kick.

"I just tried to listen to my corner, and they were calling for the body, so that's what I tried to execute. I'll have to rewatch it because it's definitely very unreal to me, but I guess it's the best one yet," she explained.

Hemetsberger's 11-1 career record now includes a finish that the Austrian will be watching back with very different eyes once the adrenaline settles.

Hemetsberger Rules Out MMA, Hints at Kickboxing Return Next

With the Muay Thai title defense complete and a performance bonus banked, Hemetsberger offered a clear picture of what comes next. The two-sport queen has a defined set of priorities and MMA is not among them.

"MMA is not on the plan right now. I like to focus on the two disciplines I'm doing already. Never say never, but right now, it's not on the plan. I'm happy to fight whoever comes up. Maybe we'll go for the kickboxing one again next," she said.

A return to kickboxing competition would give Hemetsberger the opportunity to add another successful defense to her dual-sport reign. She claimed the kickboxing belt by defeating Jackie Buntan in a split decision earlier this year.