“I can make it one more time” - Smilla Sundell confident she can make strawweight limit, reclaim women’s Muay Thai throne
Former undisputed ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion 'The Hurricane' Smilla Sundell of Sweden has one goal in mind right now, and that's to get her belt back.
Sundell lost the world title on the scales at ONE Fight Night 22 last May when she failed weight and hydration for her main event bout against Russia's 'Karelian Lynx' Natalia Diachkova.
But the 19-year-old phenom is determined to get her golden hardware back, even if it's the last time she fights in this weight class.
Speaking to fans in her own personal YouTube channel, Sundell made her intentions known.
'The Hurricane' said:
"I think I can make it one more time, but I'll need more time to cut the weight, basically. A longer fight camp, yeah. This time I didn't make it."
Despite failing to make weight against Diachkova, the fight pushed through and it was without a doubt the toughest of Sundell's career so far.
The 19-year-old Swede got dominated in the early going, after being tagged repeatedly by Diachkova's monstrous right hand. After the first round, it was clear that 'Karelian Lynx' was a force to be reckoned with.
However, as is the case with the majority of Sundell's opponents, Diachkova eventually caved to the teenage phenom's pressure.
Sundell tagged her opponent with a massive body shot in the second round and then finished the job along the ropes.
Smilla Sundell on her primary goal against Natalia Diachkova: "I wanted to get her in the corner"
'The Hurricane' Smilla Sundell knew that 'Karelian Lynx' Natalia Diachkova was a legit threat, and that she had to somehow find a way to weather the early storm.
Sundell believed that her best bet was to trap Diachkova in the corner and unleash her best offense, which proved to be the correct strategy.
She said:
"I wanted to get her in the corner. Knee, knee, knee. Then she went into the ropes. And you see me, what, what’s going on. And then [I jumped in for the finish.] My dad even jumped over the ropes. At least he didn’t pick me up this time. My dad, he’s still celebrating. And my dad’s jumping."