2025 Year-In-Review: Stella Hemetsberger Recaps ‘Amazing’ Run As She Hunts For Two-Sport Glory In 2026
The last 12 months were nothing short of spectacular for reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger.
It was a magical 2025 that changed everything for ONE Championship’s first Austrian titleholder, who runs it back with Jackie Buntan for the latter’s ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 40 on Prime Video inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, February 13.
At ONE Friday Fights 99 in March, the Salzburg native returned in strawweight kickboxing action and completely outclassed Italy’s Anna Lia “Tremate” Moretti across nine minutes of action to make it back-to-back wins after debuting in the same discipline with a victory over Chellina Chirino in October 2024.
The 26-year-old then made a quick turnaround for her promotional Muay Thai debut against Vanessa Romanowski. Competing in 4-ounce gloves for the first time paid immediate dividends as she put the Polish-Swedish bruiser down with a punishing right kick to the rib cage that ended proceedings at 1:44 of the opening round.
The early knockout not only improved her record to 3-0 in the promotion and 8-1 overall, but it also earned the Austrian striker a US$100,000 contract to compete on the promotion’s main roster.
She said:
“Winning the contract was really special. It was a dream come true at that time because that was what I came here for. It was unbelievable. But I worked hard toward that dream, and I knew it would have been something that I’d have accomplished at some point.”
What came next would define not just Hemetsberger’s year, but her entire career that started through pure chance – a main event clash against Buntan for the vacant ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship in her American primetime debut at ONE Fight Night 35 in September.
The Filipino-American athlete was a favorite, but “Always Hungry’s” appetite to hoist the most coveted prize in Muay Thai was far greater. She weathered Buntan’s early aggression, dropped her twice in the opening round, and refused to wilt under the pressure of the biggest moment of her life.
When the final bell sounded, the RS-Gym and Phuket Fight Club superstar had outworked, outfought, and outpointed the Boxing Works affiliate to impress all three judges at ringside.
Hemetsberger said:
“I’m very happy with my performance against Jackie. I showed everyone that I can fight and win against the best. So, that’s a very important thing for me. It gave me the belief that I can beat the best.
“That said, for me, in every one of my fights, I always see room for improvement. So, I’m going to keep on working to put on a better performance in the next fights that I’ll have.”
Thus, Austria’s first-ever ONE World Champion was born. From ONE Friday Fights competitor to divisional queen in less than six months – the rise was complete.
It represented validation of everything Hemetsberger had sacrificed to reach the pinnacle of Muay Thai. Yet despite capturing the sport’s ultimate prize, she sees only room for growth this year.
“Always Hungry” added:
“Last year was amazing. I accomplished a goal [of winning the ONE World Title]. A really big one. It was a result of years of hard work and dedication that turned dreams into reality. It’s been an amazing year. I’m very happy with how everything turned out, and I’m glad the hard work I put in paid off.”
Hemetsberger Talks Buntan Rematch, Goals For 2026
Last year exceeded Stella Hemetsberger’s wildest expectations. She scored three victories and an achievement that will forever link her name to Austrian combat sports history.
However, the record-breaking megastar is ready to scale to greater heights this year to join an elite list of talent who have tasted two-sport World Championship status on the global stage of martial arts.
Though her foundation remains in kickboxing, making the switch back to the discipline against someone of Buntan’s caliber is no easy task.
The 26-year-old wouldn’t have it any other way, though:
“This is something many fans want to see. And it’ll be another exciting fight again. It excites me as well. I’m still training. I’m still working every day to get better and putting in the work to improve as much as I can.
“Kickboxing is my discipline, and I’m looking forward to returning under these rules. I’m locked in on becoming a two-sport World Champion.”
Win or lose, the reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion knows she has a target on her back as the divisional queen.
Whether a trilogy against Buntan could unfold or if her next test comes in the form of another dangerous challenger from the Muay Thai ranks, Hemetsberger is ready to tackle another campaign with the very same principles that led to her magical 2025.
According to the RS-Gym and Phuket Fight Club warrior, the best has yet to come:
“An ideal 2026 would be just to stay active, have a lot of good fights, put on a lot of good performances, and continuously improve my skills and get better. That’ll be an ideal year, just always striving to get better and be better. I’m very thankful for all the support I’ve received throughout last year.”
