‘Another Beautiful Belt’ – Stella Hemetsberger Ready To Seize Two-Sport Glory Against Jackie Buntan At ONE Fight Night 40
After becoming Austria’s first ONE World Champion last year, Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger arrives into 2026 to take another crack at history – and she’s locked in on seizing the moment.
The strawweight Muay Thai queen bids for two-sport glory when she faces ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan in the main event of ONE Fight Night 40 on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, February 13.
Hemetsberger leads the rivalry after delivering a solid five-round performance against the Filipina-American at ONE Fight Night 35 last September.
Still, her preparation for this hotly anticipated rematch has been meticulous as she aims to leave the Thai capital with 26 pounds of gold draped across both shoulders.
The 27-year-old told onefc.com:
“I’ve spent most of the fight camp here in Phuket Fight Club. Altogether, by the time of the fight, it should be nine weeks here. We’ve been focusing on kickboxing style, but my training routine is kind of similar to all of my Muay Thai camps.
“The key coaches for this camp have been my Muay Thai coach, Kru Farsahtan, our boxing coach here, Gabriel Iuri, and my strength and conditioning coach back home, Robert Eckschlager. They’ve all made sure I’m in peak condition for this fight.”
Despite already proving she can beat Buntan, “Always Hungry” refuses to walk into the mecca of Muay Thai overconfident.
The Salzburg native knows that champions adjust, and she expects the Boxing Works affiliate to come improved and motivated to reclaim the psychological edge.
That reality keeps Hemetsberger grounded:
“Of course, beating Jackie gave me confidence. But I never get too confident in any position. This is a completely new fight for me. Jackie is a strong fighter, so I’m still very much aware that I have to put in the work to come out on top.”
When asked about what drives her heading into this sequel, the RS-Gym and Phuket Fight Club representative didn’t mince words.
The two-sport ONE World Champion dream isn’t just motivation – it’s the fuel that’s powered every moment of this grueling camp and an achievement that proves she’s elite across disciplines.
Hemetsberger continued:
“I’m really excited to show my skills to the world and absolutely happy that I have another massive chance to show my abilities in another discipline. Above everything else, becoming a two-sport World Champion is my main motivation for this fight.
“It’ll be nice to have another beautiful belt. I’m not visualizing too much, but yeah, the ideal process is my hand getting raised at the end of all of it again.”
Hemetsberger Details Path To Victory In Rematch
That image – hand raised, second belt secured, legacy cemented – has played in Stella Hemetsberger’s mind throughout camp.
But visualizing success and executing the game plan are two different battles.
The reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion expects a more determined Jackie Buntan from the one she took on last year when they renew their rivalry next week.
Hemetsberger explained:
“I guess she will come in differently after the last fight, because that opening round was where I dropped her. Also, because it’s a different discipline, I expect this to be another tough fight.”
Different fight or not, Hemetsberger’s objective remains crystal clear: win and move to a pristine 5-0 on the global stage.
How that victory materializes – knockout, decision, domination across five rounds – matters less than the outcome itself.
But if the opportunity to finish the 28-year-old presents itself, the Austrian won’t hesitate:
“The ideal ending would always be a knockout, of course. But my main focus is winning that fight and putting on a good performance. If the chance for a knockout comes in this fight, I’d be very happy. If not, my focus is on being the better fighter across five rounds.”
What gives Hemetsberger confidence heading into Buntan’s domain is the very thing that’s made her such a dangerous competitor throughout her career.
The Salzburg native’s Muay Thai sharpness enhances her kickboxing arsenal. Her kickboxing precision complements her traditional clinch game. Everything works together, creating a puzzle opponents struggle to solve.
As such, the 27-year-old believes that versatility will be her greatest asset in this epic all-champion showdown:
“My advantage in kickboxing is my versatility. My kickboxing skills complement my Muay Thai game, and vice versa. I like to use my kicks. I like to use my hands, and I like to put all that together. So I think that will be my advantage over Jackie.”
