Former ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion Smilla Sundell admitted that she had a rough time making the weight limit in her last fight, which she paid dearly for. She is hoping to be able to compete in a new weight category that is more suitable for her now.
'The Hurricane' was forced to vacate her championship belt in her last fight in May after missing weight for her supposed title clash against Russian challenger Natalia Diachkova.
The clash was still played but in a catchweight of 126.5 pounds at ONE Fight Night 22 on May 3, with Sundell scoring an impressive second-round TKO over her erstwhile undefeated opponent.
Following her latest victory, the 19-year-old Swedish phenom spoke on her YouTube channel about her struggles in making strawweight last time around and how she is hoping that ONE Championship creates a new weight category higher for her to compete in.
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Smilla Sundell said:
"So I do have a problem going down in weight for this weight category, so I'm hoping for another weight class but I still do want one more fight in this weight (division) so I can leave the belt on my own."
She then went on to say that she hopes to be back in action soon, if possible in one of ONE Championship's shows in the United States later this year, saying:
"It doesn't matter, but I know they have two events in America this year. You'll go with me?"
Check out what she had to say below:
Her victory at ONE Fight Night 22 was the fifth in as many matches for Sundell since making her promotional debut in February 2022.
Smilla Sundell ready for whoever is pitted against her next
For her next match, Smilla Sundell said that she has nobody in particular in mind just yet, but is ready for whoever ONE Championship puts in front of her.
The former ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion made this known following her victory last month at ONE Friday Fights 22.
Sundell had mixed emotions over the victory because the match saw her stripped of her world title after missing weight.
But she said the journey continues for her and it does not matter who comes up next, sharing during the post-event press conference:
"It does not matter who I fight. I just love fighting . So yeah, anyone who steps into the ring with me."
Prior to being stripped of her world title, Smilla Sundell successfully defended it once against atomweight Muay Thai queen Allycia Hellen Rodrigues in an all-champion title clash back in September, winning by TKO in the third round.