5 Major Takeaways From ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan Vs. Hemetsberger II
ONE Championship delivered another dazzling American primetime card inside Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium this past Friday, February 13.
ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video crowned two new World Champions and featured several statement-making performances across MMA, Muay Thai, and submission grappling.
From stunning finishes to barnburners that went down to the wire, every battle showed why the world’s largest martial arts organization remains the premier destination for world-class martial arts action.
With that in mind, here are five major takeaways from another entertaining night in the Thai capital.
#1 Hemetsberger Truly Is Elite
ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger’s main goal heading into 2026 was to attain two-sport glory – and that dream was accomplished inside the mecca of Muay Thai last week.
The Austrian slugger dethroned Jackie Buntan via split decision to capture the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title and cement her status as one of the sport’s most complete strikers at ONE Fight Night 40.
“Always Hungry” showcased tactical brilliance across all five rounds, weathering the Filipina-American’s speed and power in the early frames before seizing control with devastating body kicks in the championship rounds.
The victory improved Hemetsberger’s record to 10-1 and made her only the third two-sport queen in ONE history, following Stamp Fairtex and Janet “JT” Todd. Furthermore, Austria’s first double champ on the global stage moved to 2-0 against Buntan.
Just five months after claiming the vacant Muay Thai gold against the Boxing Works representative in a five-round thriller, Hemetsberger kicked off 2026 with another historic achievement to move to a perfect 5-0 under the ONE banner.
With both strawweight striking crowns now in her possession, the sky appears limitless for the Austrian superstar. Regardless of what comes next, the RS-Gym and Phuket Fight Club athlete has firmly established herself as the gold standard in women’s striking at 125 pounds.
#2 Carrillo Completes Career-Long Dream
“King of the North” Nico Carrillo’s first World Title battle inside the squared Circle ended in heartbreak last year. But he made the most of his second shot at 26 pounds of gold in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 40.
The Glaswegian warrior overcame fellow knockout merchant Shadow Singha Mawynn via unanimous decision to claim the ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Title.
Carrillo, however, faced adversity like he had never experienced before, as his Thai counterpart controlled the opening rounds with smart defense and precision striking. But World Champions are forged in moments of crisis, and the Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy standout demonstrated precisely why he remains one of the most dangerous strikers in the weight bracket.
Carrillo seized control in the fourth frame, dropping Shadow with his trademark right hand and capitalizing on the Thai’s mounting exhaustion. By the final round, “King of the North” stalked his opponent with renewed confidence and showcased the finishing instinct that has defined his career.
The victory pushed Carrillo’s record to 30-4. Though his 100 percent finishing rate was snapped, the five-round war proved he possesses world-class conditioning and the mental fortitude to overcome adversity against elite opposition.
With Tawanchai PK Saenchai sidelined due to injury, Carrillo now waits for his shot at unification. The matchup presents a fascinating stylistic puzzle. The Scotsman’s explosive power and unrelenting pressure could prove to be the divisional king’s worst nightmare.
#3 Andrey Makes A Case For New ONE World Title
Fabricio “Hokage” Andrey dominated fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Joao “Bisnaga” Mendes via unanimous decision in their featherweight submission grappling showcase in Bangkok to move to a pristine 3-0 in the organization.
The 25-year-old constantly hunted for heel hooks and leg locks while denying Mendes any breathing room. Though his opponent displayed elite defensive awareness, “Hokage” proved far superior with his high-level submission repertoire throughout their 10-minute duel.
With wins over Mendes, Ashley Williams, and Eduardo Granzotto, the Brazilian may have done enough to make a case for the introduction of a ONE Featherweight Submission Grappling World Championship.
What separates Andrey from the pack is his refusal to play it safe. Where other elite grapplers adopt defensive shells against world-class opposition, “Hokage” attacks relentlessly from opening bell to final second.
That fearless mentality, paired with technical mastery honed through 106 career victories, makes him the most compelling championship candidate in the division.
Andrey’s systematic dismantling of three consecutive top-caliber opponents hasn’t just been dominant. It’s also proven to be a statement that when ONE introduces divisional submission grappling gold at 155 pounds, “Hokage” stands ready to be crowned its first king.
#4 Lee More Dangerous With Lessons Learned
Adrian “The Phenom” Lee entered his lightweight MMA tilt against Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima at ONE Fight Night 40, determined to return to his winning ways. That fire to get his hand raised was very apparent, as the 19-year-old prodigy produced arguably the most violent display of his thriving career this past Friday.
Despite being wobbled early by Isojima’s counter right hand, the Prodigy Training Center affiliate showcased incredible composure in resetting himself before systematically dismantling his 28-year-old Japanese opponent with razor-sharp striking.
Once Lee took the fight to the canvas, “The Phenom” secured mount and unleashed a brutal ground-and-pound sequence that forced the stoppage at 2:56 of the opening frame.
The performance demonstrated growth in every department – improved striking defense, better fight IQ under duress, and the finishing instinct that has made the teenage sensation one of the planet’s most exciting talents.
Lee’s ability to recover from early trouble and dominate across all phases proved he has learned valuable lessons from his first professional defeat to ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo at ONE Fight Night 35 last year.
Now, with a fourth career triumph – all acquired in highlight-reel fashion – a rematch against Ruotolo could be on the horizon. However, “The Phenom” could also face Brazilian standout Lucas Gabriel, who impressed in his three-round scrap against Russian beast Magomed Akaev earlier in the evening.
#5 Hu Puts The Flyweight Division On Notice
Danny “The King” Kingad has never been knocked out in his career, but Chinese slugger “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong flipped that script emphatically during their flyweight MMA battle at ONE Fight Night 40.
Just as he had promised, the 30-year-old finished the former ONE Flyweight MMA World Title challenger inside the mecca of Muay Thai.
After pinning the Lions Nation MMA veteran into the corner with a sequence of knees to the head, Hu seamlessly transitioned to punches and hammer fists that eventually forced the referee to wave off the contest at the 4:50 mark.
The statement victory brought an end to his two-match skid while improving his tally of victories to 14. More significantly, it demonstrated that he possesses the finishing instincts and top control necessary to threaten the division’s elite when operating at full capacity.
With reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu seeking his next test after he demolished Joshua “The Passion” Pacio at ONE 173 in Tokyo, Japan, the divisional landscape has never been more competitive.
Hu’s finishing ability – now proven against a former World Title challenger who had never been KO’ed – positions him as a legitimate threat to anyone in the division. One or two more performances like this, and “Wolf Warrior” will certainly be kicking down the door for a title shot.
