‘Put My Heart In There’ – Stella Hemetsberger Reflects On Five-Round War With Jackie Buntan
The world saw Austria's first ONE World Champion crowned in the main event of ONE Fight Night 35 on Prime Video.
By Kriel Ibarrola
Sep 8, 2025, 08:28 UTC
Austrian sensation Stella Hemetsberger had always dreamed of becoming a World Champion. But even in her wildest imagination, she couldn’t have scripted the magnitude of her career-defining victory in the main event of ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger on Prime Video.
The 26-year-old made history last Saturday, September 6 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok by becoming her country’s first-ever ONE World Champion.
Hemetsberger turned in a stellar performance, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over strawweight kickboxing queen Jackie Buntan to capture the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.
It certainly wasn’t easy, especially against an elite striker like Buntan. The Filipina-American sensation brought fiery combinations and veteran experience into their five-round war for the crown.
But Hemetsberger came prepared for battle. The Austrian underdog quickly pulled away on the scorecards in the opening round by scoring two stunning knockdowns via perfectly timed short punches.
Over at Phuket Fight Club, Hemetsberger and her team carefully studied her opponent’s tendencies to discover weaknesses and found that Buntan had a tendency to lean back to avoid head kicks.
This left an opening for “Always Hungry” to unleash the counters:
“Getting a knockdown and then two knockdowns gives confidence, but I think I felt confident before the fight as well, trusting in my abilities and trusting in my team.
“We prepared for everything. We didn’t put a specific game plan to exactly execute one technique, but we worked to be overall complete and be ready for everything. We definitely worked on my left hook and what we’re gonna do if she leans back, but we just managed to put it together the right way.”
However, Buntan weathered those early storms and showed her toughness. The California-based striker came out strong in the middle rounds, unleashing her trademark combinations that gradually shifted the momentum of the fight.
But Hemetsberger was courageous in the face of adversity, with her grit becoming her defining trait. Refusing to coast on the back of her early lead, the Austrian earned every second of her unanimous decision victory.
When asked how she stayed composed under fire, Hemetsberger’s answer revealed her champion mentality:
“I was just trying to stay calm, listen to my corner and whatever she comes with at me, still be ready to put on a good fight, to counter that back, and still follow the plan. I just tried to put my heart in there and do everything I’m capable of, and I’m very happy it played out that way.”
Hemetsberger’s victory carries the dreams of an entire nation. Her path from ONE Friday Fights to World Champion blazed a trail no Austrian had ever walked, making her a pioneer in her country’s martial arts landscape.
She reflected on her achievement:
“I’m the first contracted fighter in ONE Championship [from Austria], and now I’m the first Austrian to win a ONE Championship belt.
“It feels amazing to represent my country here in ONE Championship, showing in Thailand that I’m from Austria, Europe. I also hope that it will help to give the sport more publicity and more audience back home as well.”
Hemetsberger Open To Rematch With Buntan Under Kickboxing Rules
While Stella Hemetsberger has mastered the “art of eight limbs,” her foundation remains in kickboxing.
After thwarting Jackie Buntan’s two-sport aspirations, the Austrian now harbors ambitions of also winning the gold in her second sport.
The tables have turned and she wants to challenge her Filipina-American rival for the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.
Hemetsberger offered:
“I’m coming from kickboxing, and I do have way more experience in kickboxing as well. So I actually would like to give myself a go at kickboxing rules as well if I get the chance and the opportunity.
“I think with our fight today, it would be a good fight to do a rematch, and also for people to watch. I’m happy either way, what opportunity we get, what the next fight is. But yeah, I would like to fight kickboxing again as well.”
With the coveted golden belt around her waist, Hemetsberger’s appetite for success remains undiminished.
Austria’s first ONE World Champion made it clear that her journey is only just beginning. She concluded:
“I’m still hungry. I’m always hungry. I think that’s the perfect fit.”
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