Stella Hemetsberger rewrites history at ONE Fight Night 40: “Another great fight”

Stella Hemetsberger is a two-sport ONE World Champion. The Austrian striker defeated Filipina-American rival Jackie Buntan by split decision at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Friday, February 13, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, to capture the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.

She already owned the divisional Muay Thai crown, and with two belts now fastened around her waist, the 27-year-old became just the third woman in ONE Championship history to hold World Titles in two striking disciplines, joining Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd in that exclusive company.

The rematch came five months after their first meeting under Muay Thai rules, where Hemetsberger dropped Buntan twice in round one and edged a tightly contested bout on the scorecards. This time, the rule set shifted to kickboxing and a sustained five-round output became the defining factor. Hemetsberger answered Buntan’s hand combinations with measured counters, consistent body kicks, and a rhythm that never wavered in the championship rounds.

“It was different. In the first fight, I managed to get the two knockdowns in the first round, which determined the fight,” Hemetsberger said. “This fight, I think I managed to put on a good five-round fight and stay good until the end, showing my skill set again. It was a different fight from the first fight because in the first fight the knockdowns had a big influence in the fight, but I think in this fight I could show that over five rounds, I was the better fighter.”

Stella Hemetsberger reflects on making Austrian combat sports history

The victory carried significance well beyond the world of kickboxing. Stella Hemetsberger entered ONE Championship through the ONE Friday Fights weekly series in late 2024, stringing together three straight wins at the very same Lumpinee Stadium to earn a US$100,000 contract. Less than six months later, she became Austria’s first ONE World Champion. Now, she’s its first double champion.

What comes next remains open. Hemetsberger holds both the strawweight Muay Thai and kickboxing titles, which means defenses across two disciplines are on the table. She’s not forcing the conversation about future opponents, and she didn’t change her tone toward Buntan after the final bell. For now, the focus is simply on carrying two divisions with the same hunger that got her here.

From Friday Fights newcomer to double champion in just over a year, the scale of the achievement wasn’t lost on Hemetsberger when the dust settled. She closed the night by speaking directly to the people back home who helped make it possible, and then turned her attention to what lies ahead.

“Big thank you to everyone back home — my team, my friends, the police supporting me along my career, and every single person in Austria,” Hemetsberger said. “We’ve made history in general, being the first Austrian fighter in ONE Championship, becoming the first Austrian champion, and becoming the first Austrian double champion. We’ve written history. I’ll defend whatever. I really like kickboxing rules. I like Muay Thai as well. There are no easy fights as a champion. We’ll see whatever comes — I’ll put in the work and put on another great fight again.”