Johanna Persson

Swedish striker Johanna Persson traded lesson plans for championship gold – and the gamble paid off in spectacular fashion.

Born in the picturesque coastal town of Gävle, Sweden, approximately 100 miles north of Stockholm, Persson’s athletic journey began on the soccer pitch. She dedicated herself to the sport throughout her youth, playing competitively until she was 15 years old. Soon after that, she shifted her focus to academics.

Her life took an unexpected turn at 23 while studying to become a teacher. A university friend casually invited her to tag along to a Muay Thai class, and what started as simple curiosity quickly evolved into an all-consuming passion. Within three months of her first training session, Persson had signed up for her first amateur fight – a decision that would reshape her entire future.

The natural talent was undeniable. Persson dominated Sweden’s amateur scene, capturing multiple national championships and establishing herself as one of the country’s premier strikers. Her technical prowess and devastating power attracted attention throughout Scandinavia, but she remained committed to her teaching career while pursuing martial arts as a serious hobby.

Everything changed in 2023 when Persson made the life-altering decision to quit her teaching job and dedicate herself entirely to professional Muay Thai. The gamble paid off spectacularly. Her breakout 2024 campaign saw her go undefeated while systematically collecting titles across multiple levels of competition, including the WMC Nordic Title, WMC European Title, and ISKA Strawweight Muay Thai Title.

Each victory built momentum toward her ultimate goal of World Title glory. The culmination arrived in early 2025 when she traveled to Scotland and defeated hometown favorite Rhona Walker to claim the WBC Muay Thai World Championship.

That stunning victory in hostile territory caught the attention of ONE Championship, earning her the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to challenge for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title in her promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 33. For a former teacher turned World Champion, it represents the perfect next chapter in an already extraordinary story.