Diachkova Says Numbers Back Her Title Claim

Natalia Diachkova says her case for a ONE Championship world title has already been made on paper.

The Russian challenger meets Stella Hemetsberger for the ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in Friday's ONE Fight Night 46 main event from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. Diachkova, who lost her first crack at the belt, has rebuilt her credentials with two straight wins and now carries a 6-1 promotional record with four finishes into the rematch.

Diachkova Questions Champion's Path To Gold

Per BJ Penn.com, Diachkova argues the Austrian champion's resume does not reflect genuine adversity. She pointed specifically to Hemetsberger's back-to-back victories over Jackie Buntan as fights that revealed more about the opponent than the titleholder. "I consulted with the best trainers of Russia and Thailand, and all of them said it's not Stella who won, it's Jackie who lost," Diachkova told the outlet.

The 31-year-old said she has not structured camp around hunting a specific finish. Instead, she has trained to capitalise on openings whenever they appear across all five rounds. "I'm not thinking about a knockout, though I'm ready for it in my psychological condition," she said. "I'm ready to knock her out in round one, two, three, four or five."

A victory Friday would end Hemetsberger's perfect 5-0 run with ONE Championship and strip the Austrian of one of two belts that made her a two-sport world champion. Diachkova opened her ONE tenure with four straight wins that earned her a six-figure main roster contract before the first title setback.

ONE Fight Night 46 airs live in US primetime Friday, August 14.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Natalia Diachkova says the numbers already back up her ONE World Title claim