Jackie Buntan Vs. Stella Hemetsberger II: 4 Keys To Victory In ONE Fight Night 40 Main Event
One of the most highly anticipated rematches in women’s striking history goes down this Friday, February 13, when ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan and divisional Muay Thai queen Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger gave fans an unforgettable war at ONE Fight Night 35 last September.
When the dust settled after five rounds of intense action, Hemetsberger claimed the vacant throne via unanimous decision to become Austria’s first-ever ONE World Champion.
After thwarting Buntan’s two-sport aspirations in their Muay Thai encounter, Hemetsberger seeks her own path to dual-division glory when she challenges the Filipino-American for her kickboxing gold. This time, Buntan defends her crown while seeking revenge.
Before this rivalry is renewed inside the ring, here are both strikers’ clearest paths to victory.
#1 Buntan’s Sharp Boxing Combinations
The change in ruleset could spark a change in outcome for Buntan.
This rematch feels like a clean slate for the Filipino-American champion. It’s a whole different fight under kickboxing rules, where her technical fundamentals and pure striking prowess truly shine.
The 28-year-old’s best weapons have always been her precise hands, forged to lethal precision under Bryan Popejoy at Boxing Works in California.
Without the clinching that defines Muay Thai, Buntan’s Western-style boxing takes center stage. She can detonate her dizzying combinations with freedom, unleashing blazing hand speed and crisp technique.
Her punch-heavy approach dismantled legendary French-Algerian icon Anissa “C18” Meksen across five rounds to capture the inaugural kickboxing crown at ONE 169.
That same power was evident against Hemetsberger, as Buntan’s signature left hook busted up the Austrian’s face and left her eyes nearly swollen shut.
Timing that left hook as “Always Hungry” pushes forward could prove decisive. If Buntan can slip the Austrian’s dangerous attacks with her trademark hook, she can create openings for extended combinations.
However, the California native must let her hands go early and often. Discouraging Hemetsberger’s pressure with sharp boxing could swing the tide dramatically in her favor.
#2 Hemetsberger’s Right Hand Counters
While their first battle went the full five-round distance, Hemetsberger essentially sealed her victory in the opening stanza after scoring two explosive knockdowns that shocked the world.
The RS-GYM and Phuket Fight Club standout studied Buntan’s tendencies carefully, noticing how the Filipina-American leaned back when slipping shots. The eagle-eyed Austrian analyzed the pattern and deduced her opening.
Her reading proved perfect. A short right cross counter caught Buntan flush on the chin, sending her crashing to the canvas. Moments later, Hemetsberger executed the same technique, flooring Buntan for a second time.
In this fight, that right hand remains her most devastating weapon. The threat shouldn’t diminish despite this rematch being contested under kickboxing rules.
Buntan will certainly make adjustments and exercise more caution with her head movement. But Hemetsberger should once again start fast and hunt that counter early.
Stealing rounds with knockdowns forces Hemetsberger’s opponents to fight tentatively, knowing that missile of a right hand could detonate at any moment.
#3 Buntan’s Volume Striking And Tempo Control
What makes Buntan’s attacks so lethal is that she’s a power-puncher who throws heat in bunches.
Given her three-inch height disadvantage, the Filipino-American champion must compensate with overwhelming output. Constant combinations and non-stop pressure will force Hemetsberger to defend rather than attack, disrupting the Austrian’s counter-striking game plan.
Buntan’s ability to pressure forward, cut angles, and dictate tempo will be crucial to securing her redemption. Busy fighters are harder to counter, and keeping Hemetsberger reacting instead of hunting makes the Austrian’s dangerous right hand far less threatening.
The California native can take a page from her friend and chief training partner, former two-sport ONE World Champion Janet “JT” Todd, whose relentless high-volume approach overwhelmed countless opponents in the Circle.
In that first fight with Hemetsberger, Buntan grew stronger as the rounds progressed, finding success in the middle stanzas. This time, she must dictate pace with aggressive activity from the opening bell rather than allowing “Always Hungry” to establish rhythm early.
If the 28-year-old can consistently break down Hemetsberger’s defense with sustained pressure, her singular power shots will find their home more effectively.
#4 Hemetsberger’s Distance Management
Hemetsberger found immense success in their first encounter by neutralizing Buntan’s blitzes with pristine range control and nimble footwork.
The Austrian used her height and length advantage to its fullest, staying long on the outside while punishing the Filipino-American with sharp jabs and stinging teep kicks. This approach ignited her offense and established secure defensive positioning that made her difficult to hit cleanly.
When Buntan found her groove in the championship rounds, it was Hemetsberger’s perfect grasp of when to close the distance or circle away that prevented a comeback. She controlled exchanges by dictating range, forcing Buntan to fight at the end of her longer strikes.
In their rematch, the strawweight Muay Thai queen must be even more creative since she cannot rely on clinch work under kickboxing rules. But the Salzburg native possesses the killer reflexes and ring IQ to stay elusive while methodically dismantling the champion from afar.
If “Always Hungry” can replicate that disciplined distance management, it should keep Buntan frustrated and unable to unload her dangerous combinations.
Fighting tall and smart will be Hemetsberger’s biggest key to two-sport supremacy.
