Natalia Diachkova is fired up to accomplish her dream of claiming Muay Thai’s biggest prize at ONE Fight Night 46 on August 14.
The Russian star faces two-sport titleholder Stella Hemetsberger in a ONE strawweight Muay Thai world championship clash. Their scheduled five-round battle headlines the card inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Diachkova arrives at this clash off two straight triumphs, a dominant unanimous decision win over Taylor McClatchie and a first-round knockout of Fahsai Aor Yutthachai.
She is confident that a third successive win awaits her in Bangkok. In fact, the Team Mehdi Zatout star knows how things will end this Friday. She stated:
“I really look forward to this fight. But I’m not thinking about a knockout. [Though] I’m ready for it in my psychological condition. I won’t give all my strength at once unless I get a lucky chance. In this case, I will make use 100 percent of it. I’m ready to knock her out in round one, two, three, four or five.”
It isn’t all talk, however. Alongside her vicious finish of Fahsai earlier this year, the 31-year-old has won three of her four fights in the promotion via knockout.
When asked for a message she had for Hemetsberger, Diachkova didn’t hold back. The Russian added:
“Stella, get f****** back and get my belt back to me. It’s enough now, you’ve played with it a bit, good girl, I think your shoulders are aching now.”
The defending titleholder, though, hasn’t been knocked out and enjoys a 5-0 run in ONE.
Hemetsberger emerged victorious in two successive five-round battles against Jackie Buntan to lay her hands on not one, but two world titles.
Diachkova certainly has a tough task ahead. But if all goes to plan, there could be a new divisional queen at ONE Fight Night 46.
Diachkova wants Hemetsberger’s kickboxing crown too
Should she take out the Austrian athlete, Diachkova wants to run it back against Hemetsberger under kickboxing rules. She continued:
“I would definitely like to take her second belt as well.”
The Team Mehdi Zatout affiliate hasn’t competed in kickboxing under the promotional spotlight. All her appearances have come in Muay Thai.
Despite the lack of experience in the discipline, the Russian remains game as ever to tackle new challenges. Above all, she wants to continue fighting for a cause that stretches far beyond her own career. She concluded:
“They [students] will feel this power, that everything is possible. ‘I’m the same ordinary person who doesn’t stop dreaming and longs to become a champion. I go and do it.’ Each one of them can believe in herself, in her dream, and by this, I’m telling them: everything is possible in your life.”
