Stella Hemetsberger Rules Out Immediate Jackie Buntan Trilogy

Stella Hemetsberger has made it clear that a third fight with Jackie Buntan is not currently at the top of her list. The Austrian two-sport world champion successfully defended her ONE women’s strawweight Muay Thai world title at ONE Fight Night 46, and her latest victory has naturally prompted questions about what comes next.

Hemetsberger retained her championship on August 14 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, producing a spectacular third-round knockout against Russian challenger Natalia Diachova. A perfectly timed body kick ended the contest and allowed Hemetsberger to walk away with her title still secured around her waist.

With another successful defense completed, attention immediately shifted toward her next challenger. Given Hemetsberger’s history with Jackie Buntan, a trilogy fight would appear to be an obvious possibility. The two fighters have already met twice across two different disciplines, and Hemetsberger has won both encounters.

However, the champion believes the 2-0 record gives her enough separation from the rivalry to consider other opponents first. Rather than immediately chasing a third fight with Buntan, Hemetsberger appears interested in testing herself against new competition.

Stella Hemetsberger wants a different opponent next

Hemetsberger addressed the possibility of another fight with Buntan in an interview with ONE Championship following her latest title defense.

The Austrian acknowledged that Buntan remains a quality fighter and could return to ONE competition, but she suggested that their rivalry does not necessarily need an immediate third chapter.

“Honestly, after 2-0, I guess we do have a dominant direction in that matter of that rivalry.”

Hemetsberger also recognized Buntan’s ability and left open the possibility of meeting her again in the future.

“So maybe in the future at some point, but right now after the 2-0, maybe some other opponent next.”

The statement is significant because trilogies are often an attractive option in combat sports. When two fighters have already produced competitive contests, another meeting can be an easy sell to fans. Hemetsberger, however, appears to believe that her career can benefit more from facing fresh opposition at this stage.

Why the Jackie Buntan trilogy remains interesting

Even though Hemetsberger does not appear interested in an immediate third meeting, the rivalry with Buntan remains one of the most compelling possibilities in her division.

The two fighters have already competed against each other twice, and Hemetsberger has won both bouts. Importantly, the combined 10 rounds were described as highly competitive, meaning the 2-0 record does not necessarily tell the entire story of their rivalry.

That is what makes a potential trilogy so intriguing.

A third fight would give Buntan an opportunity to change the narrative, while Hemetsberger would have the chance to establish complete dominance over a familiar opponent.

For now, however, the champion appears to prefer the challenge of an unfamiliar matchup.

A 2-0 record changes the matchmaking equation

There is a strategic reason for Hemetsberger’s position.

When a champion has already defeated the same opponent twice, a third fight can become difficult to justify unless there is a compelling reason for another meeting. The challenger needs to demonstrate improvement or produce a result that changes the competitive landscape.

Hemetsberger’s 2-0 advantage means she has little sporting incentive to immediately revisit the matchup.

Facing another contender could instead allow her to expand her résumé, test new aspects of her game and keep the division moving.

That does not eliminate the possibility of a trilogy. It simply means that the timing may need to be right.

Hemetsberger’s body-kick knockout keeps her momentum high

The Austrian enters this discussion after one of the most impressive finishes of her recent career.

At ONE Fight Night 46, Hemetsberger faced dangerous Russian challenger Natalia Diachova for her women’s strawweight Muay Thai world title.

The fight lasted until the third round before Hemetsberger produced the decisive moment with a powerful body kick.

The knockout was the perfect way to answer questions about her ability to remain at the top of the division. Instead of simply winning a decision and retaining her belt, she produced a highlight-reel finish that immediately strengthened her position as champion.

That momentum could also influence ONE’s matchmaking decisions. A dominant title defense gives the promotion several potential directions, including a fresh contender, a rematch with a previous opponent or an entirely different challenge.

Why fresh competition could benefit the champion

Hemetsberger’s preference for a new opponent makes sense from a competitive perspective.

Fighting a new challenger introduces different tactical problems. A familiar opponent can be studied through previous fights, while a new contender forces a champion to prepare for an unfamiliar style.

For a two-sport world champion, that variety can be especially valuable.

Hemetsberger is already balancing success across multiple combat disciplines. Facing different opponents can help her continue developing rather than repeatedly preparing for the same fighter.

There is also a career-building argument. Defeating several different high-level challengers can strengthen a champion’s legacy in a way that repeatedly fighting the same opponent may not.

Stella Hemetsberger’s two-sport championship status

The trilogy discussion is only one part of the larger story surrounding Hemetsberger.

She has established herself as a two-sport world champion, giving her a unique position within ONE Championship.

That achievement naturally invites comparisons with athletes who have attempted to dominate across multiple disciplines.

One name that frequently enters the conversation is Stamp Fairtex, who established a benchmark by becoming a champion across three disciplines.

That naturally raises the question of whether Hemetsberger could eventually attempt the same feat by adding MMA to her résumé.

Hemetsberger says MMA is not part of the plan right now

Despite the obvious appeal of becoming a three-discipline champion, Hemetsberger has indicated that she is not currently pursuing MMA.

She told ONE that her priority is maintaining her focus on the two disciplines in which she already competes.

“MMA is not on the plan right now. I like to focus on the two disciplines I’m doing already. Never say never, but right now it’s not on the plan.”

The statement suggests that Hemetsberger understands the demands involved in competing across multiple sports.

Winning a world title in one discipline requires enormous preparation. Holding championships in two disciplines requires even greater attention to training, recovery, tactical preparation and scheduling.

Adding MMA would introduce another layer of complexity, particularly because mixed martial arts requires proficiency in wrestling, grappling, takedown defense, ground control and submission fighting alongside striking.

Why focusing on two disciplines could be the smarter choice

There is a temptation in combat sports to chase every possible achievement. But for an established champion, adding another discipline can also create unnecessary risk.

Hemetsberger already has two world titles to defend. Every additional commitment could potentially reduce the amount of time available to prepare for those defenses.

Her current approach therefore appears focused on quality rather than quantity.

Instead of attempting to collect another championship simply because it is possible, she can concentrate on strengthening her legacy in the two disciplines she has already mastered at the highest level.

That strategy also protects her long-term career. MMA training can place different physical and technical demands on a fighter, and adapting to grappling-heavy competition would require substantial preparation.

Hemetsberger versus Stamp Fairtex: A different path to greatness

The comparison with Stamp Fairtex is interesting, but the two athletes do not necessarily need to follow identical career paths.

Stamp became a major example of cross-disciplinary success by competing at the highest level in striking and MMA. Hemetsberger’s achievements already stand on their own because she has established herself as a champion across two disciplines.

The comparison demonstrates that there is more than one route to becoming a combat-sports great. Hemetsberger does not need to copy Stamp’s career to establish her own legacy.

What Hemetsberger’s next fight could look like

With the Jackie Buntan trilogy apparently on hold, the most logical next step is a fresh challenger for the women’s strawweight Muay Thai world championship.

The ideal opponent would likely be someone capable of presenting a new tactical problem while having enough credibility to justify a world-title opportunity.

That could make the next stage of Hemetsberger’s career particularly interesting. After successfully dealing with Diachova, she now has the chance to face an opponent whose strengths are different from those of her previous challengers.

For the champion, that means another opportunity to demonstrate that her success is not dependent on one particular matchup.

Could Jackie Buntan still get another chance?

Absolutely. Hemetsberger did not completely close the door on a trilogy.

Her comments were focused on timing rather than an outright rejection. She acknowledged Buntan’s quality and said that a third fight could happen at some point in the future.

That leaves several possible scenarios.

Buntan could return to competition and put together a strong winning streak. Hemetsberger could successfully defend the title against another challenger and eventually revisit the rivalry. Or circumstances within the division could make a third fight too compelling for ONE to ignore.

The 2-0 record means Buntan would likely need to build a strong case for another title opportunity, but the history between the two fighters gives the matchup a natural narrative.

The importance of Hemetsberger’s latest victory

The win over Diachova did more than preserve Hemetsberger’s championship.

It reinforced her status as one of ONE’s most versatile female combat athletes and gave her a highlight finish that can help drive interest in whatever comes next.

Champions need more than technical ability to remain relevant. They need to continually provide reasons for fans to watch their next fight.

A spectacular body-kick knockout does exactly that.

Now the challenge for ONE will be finding an opponent who can match the champion’s momentum while offering a fresh storyline.

Conclusion: Stella Hemetsberger wants new challenges before another Buntan fight

Stella Hemetsberger’s victory over Natalia Diachova has left the Austrian with her ONE women’s strawweight Muay Thai world title intact and several possible paths ahead.

Although a third fight with Jackie Buntan remains an intriguing possibility, Hemetsberger has made it clear that she would prefer to face another opponent next. Her 2-0 record against Buntan gives her little reason to immediately revisit the rivalry, particularly after another successful title defense.

At the same time, Hemetsberger has resisted pressure to expand into MMA. While she acknowledged that she would never completely rule it out, her current priority is defending the championships she already holds across two disciplines.

That could prove to be the most sensible approach. Rather than chasing every possible achievement, Hemetsberger can concentrate on becoming an even more dominant champion and building a deeper legacy in the disciplines where she has already reached the top.

For now, the message is straightforward: the Buntan trilogy can wait. Hemetsberger wants a new challenge, another contender and another opportunity to prove that her two-sport championship status is only the beginning of her story.