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Tom Taylor

Smilla Sundell is living a very different life than most other teenagers.
While other people her age are typically focused on parties and university applications, she has dedicated the bulk of her teenage years to the perilous sport of Muay Thai.
“I miss out on the partying and stuff, but I think I’m OK with that,” the chipper 17-year-old Swede, who is now based in Pattaya, Thailand, told the Post. “I’m very happy.”
Sundell’s sacrifices could soon pay dividends.
ONE: Brooks open to fighting Johnson, Lineker ‘if money is right’
In February, the young Swede made a smashing debut in the ONE Championship Circle, pummelling Australia’s Diandra Martin to a third-round TKO. The victory was so impressive that she was promptly offered the opportunity to battle Filipino-American sensation Jackie Buntan for the Asian martial arts promotion’s inaugural strawweight Muay Thai title.
The pair’s title fight will co-headline the ONE: Eersel vs Sadikovic event on April 22 in Singapore.
“I was a bit a surprised,” Sundell admitted, looking back on the moment she received the offer to fight for a ONE Championship belt. “But we were like, ‘Let’s do this’.
“It’s very cool. It’s my first big card.”

In Buntan, Sundell will meet a woman who is not only several years her elder at 23, but significantly more experienced in terms of big-stage experience.
The Californian star has fought and won three times in ONE Championship, flaunting slick boxing and devastating punching power on each occasion.
Sundell admits she has “never really been hit hard before” – something that is likely to change in her fight with Buntan – but is confident her skill and aggression will carry her to victory all the same.
“I watched her last fight,” Sundell said of her opponent. “I leave [tape study] to my coaches, but I did watch one or two fights from her.”


“I think I will be OK,” she added. “I’m a very aggressive fighter, and I think that will show.”
For all Sundell’s confidence, she is being widely discounted against Buntan, in large part because of her age. She has heard her doubters, and is determined to prove them all wrong.
“I think age doesn’t matter,” she said. “I’ve been fighting for a long time now, like four or five years now.”
“I’m good at it, and I like hitting people,” Sundell added with a smile.
ONE: Jackie Buntan promises ‘a big surprise’ in Muay Thai title fight
If Sundell captures the ONE strawweight Muay Thai title later this month, it will justify all the sacrifices she has made in pursuit of her goals. But her ambition will not be quelled.
Instead, the 17-year-old has her eyes on ONE Championship’s strawweight kick-boxing division, and is even considering a move into mixed martial arts further down the line.
“Maybe I’ll try out kick-boxing,” she said when asked what will come next if she gets by Buntan. “I hope [I can win two belts]. After that, I might go over to MMA.”
Transitioning from a striking-only sport like Muay Thai into MMA is never easy, as success hinges on learning to grapple.




















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A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship)



Sundell has dabbled in the grappling arts before, and while she admits it did not come easily to her, she seems to be undeterred.
“I have tried jiu jitsu and stuff,” she said. “I’m not a big fan of grappling because I’m so tall. It’s a long fall to the ground.”
“I’ll focus on Muay Thai first, and then slowly start with MMA I think.”
The first priority, of course, is getting by Buntan. Sundell is expecting a challenging fight, but will be gunning for a finish as always.
“I like to finish people,” she said. “It will be a good fight. I don’t know yet how it will go, but it will be a tough one.”


ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev

ONE Championship: Superbon insists his longevity, success are rooted in discipline over sacrifice

ONE Championship: Mohammad Siasarani finally gets coveted contract – now he wants the belt

ONE Championship: Liu Mengyang believes win over Tawanchai is ‘turning point of my career’

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Smilla Sundell, 17, out to prove ‘age doesn’t matter’ in Muay Thai title fight – and MMA could be next

Smilla Sundell walks out for her ONE Championship debut in February, 2022. Photo: ONE Championship.

Smilla Sundell celebrates a third-round TKO victory over Diandra Martin. Photo: ONE Championship.

ONE Championship: Jarred Brooks open to fights with Demetrious Johnson, John Lineker ‘if the money is right’

Jarred Brooks celebrates beating Hiroba Minowa. Photo: ONE Championship.

Jarred Brooks throws an elbow at Hiroba Minowa. Photo: ONE Championship.

Demetrious Johnson bows in celebration after victory on his ONE Championship debut. Photos: ONE Championship

John Lineker celebrates his bantamweight title win over Bibiano Fernandes. Photo: ONE Championship.

ONE: Filipina-American Jackie Buntan promises ‘a big surprise’ for Smilla Sundell in Muay Thai title fight

Jackie Buntan prepares for a fight in the ONE Championship Circle. Photo: ONE Championship.

Jackie Buntan (right) lands an overhand right on Wondergirl Fairtex. Photo: ONE Championship.

ONE: Reloaded gets strawweight title eliminator, while heavyweights ‘Buchecha’ and ‘Reug Reug’ added to line-up

Jarred Brooks celebrates a victory inside the ONE Championship Circle. Photo: ONE Championship.

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida prepares to fight Ji-won Kang at ONE: Winter Warriors in Singapore. Photo: ONE Championship.

ONE Championship: Angela Lee admits Stamp Fairtex punch ‘scared’ her, but denies being vulnerable to good body shot

Stamp Fairtex (right) hurts Angela Lee with a body shot at ONE X. Photos: ONE Championship.

Angela Lee celebrates after submitting Stamp Fairtex at ONE X.

Angela Lee (right) comforts Stamp Fairtex after their fight at ONE X. Photo: ONE Championship.

ONE Championship: Danielle Kelly eyes Angela Lee grappling match after ‘really emotional’ debut

Danielle Kelly walks out for an atomweight grappling match with Mei Yamaguchi at ONE X on March 26 in Singapore. Photo: ONE Championship.

Danielle Kelly (top) attacks Mei Yamaguchi’s arm in a submission grappling match at ONE X on March 26 in Singapore.

Angela Lee and her family celebrate in the ONE Circle after her victory at ONE X. Photo: ONE Championship. 

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Swede will fight Jackie Buntan for the inaugural strawweight Muay Thai title on April 22 in Singapore
If she is successful, Sundell plans to transition into kick-boxing, and ‘then slowly start with MMA’



Sweden’s Smilla Sundell aims to win ONE Championship gold against Jackie Buntan on April 22, then transition into kick-boxing and ‘slowly start with MMA.’


Muay Thai