Smilla Sundell

Smilla Sundell (born 12 November 2004) is a Swedish Muay Thai kickboxer.[3][4] She is currently signed to ONE Championship, where she is the current ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion.

Smilla Sundell
BornSmilla Sundell
(2004-11-12) 12 November 2004
Sundbyberg, Sweden[1]
Other namesThe Hurricane[2]
ResidenceChonburi, Thailand
NationalitySwedish
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight55.5 kg (122 lb; 8 st 10 lb)[2]
DivisionStrawweight
Reach69.2 in (176 cm)
StyleMuay Thai
Fighting out ofBangkok, Thailand
TeamFairtex Gym (2020–present)[2]
Years active2020–present
Kickboxing record
Total39
Wins33
By knockout21
Losses5
Draws1
Last updated on: 2023-04-30

On April 22, 2022, Sundell became the youngest person to ever win a world title in Muay Thai by defeating Jackie Buntan to win the inaugural ONE Women's Strawweight Championship at 17 years and 5 months.[5][6][7] As of April 2023, she is ranked as the number two female featherweight (57.153 kg) Muay Thai practitioner in the world by the WBC Muaythai.[8]

Early life

Born in Sundbyberg, Sweden, Sundell started practicing karate at five years old for self-defense.[1][9] She first tried her hand at Muay Thai at 10 or 11, while on vacation in Thailand.[9] Sundell and her family moved to Ko Samui when she was 12 years old due to her parents' careers.[10] She and her younger sister started practicing Muay Thai at a gym called Yodyut Muay Thai due to a lack of any other sports.[11] When Sundell was 15, her family moved back to Sweden.[10] But she stayed in Thailand to pursue Muay Thai.[11] Running out of opponents in Ko Samui and inspired by watching Stamp Fairtex, in October 2019 she moved to Pattaya and joined the Fairtex Gym, where she currently lives by herself.[9][11]

Career

In early 2021, Sundell was ranked the number one female featherweight (57.153 kg) Muay Thai practitioner in the world by the WBC Muaythai at 16 years of age.[9][12] She has notable victories over decorated champion Sawsing Sor Sopit, Ponpan Por.Muengpetch, and male fighter Bongsak Sitpholek.[1][5][9] After amassing a record of 31 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, Sundell signed with ONE Championship in 2021.[1][13]

In her ONE Championship debut at ONE: Full Circle on 25 February 2022, Sundell faced Australia's Diandra Martin. She won the fight by TKO in round 3.[14][15] This was her first fight in four-once MMA gloves, which are smaller than the usual gloves used in Muay Thai.[10]

At ONE 156 on 22 April 2022, she challenged Jackie Buntan for the inaugural ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.[16][17][18] Sundell won by unanimous decision, making her the youngest person to ever win a world title.[19][20][21] The fight also earned her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.[5]

Championships and awards

Fight record
Muay Thai record
33 Wins (21 (T)KOs), 5 Losses, 1 Draw.
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2022-04-22WinUnited States Jackie BuntanONE 156Kallang, SingaporeDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Won ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.
2022-02-25WinAustralia Diandra MartinONE: Full CircleKallang, SingaporeTKO (3 Knockdowns)31:35
2020-12-13DrawThailand Fahseethong SitzorauengSuper Champ Muay ThaiBangkok, ThailandDecision33:00
2020-10-23WinThailand Sawsing Sor SopitSuper Champ Muay ThaiBangkok, ThailandDecision33:00
2020-09-06WinThailand Ponpan Por.MuengpetchSuper Champ Muay ThaiBangkok, ThailandKO (Knee to the head)22:07
2020-02-29WinAustralia Nicola CallanderRogue Muay ThaiEatons Hill, Queensland, AustraliaDecision (Unanimous)52:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

[23]

See also

References
  1. "Smilla Sundell 16 år fick proffskontrakt med världsorganisationen ONE FC". Fighter Magazine (in Swedish). 16 January 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. "Smilla "The Hurricane" Sundell". ONE Championship. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. "Who is Smilla Sundell's next contender?". Cup Sport. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. "MMA: Jackie Buntan bares plan to win ONE strawweight crown". ABS-CBN. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  5. "This 17-year-old girl is a phenomenon. Meet the ONE FC Muay Thai champion Smilla Sundell". www.telecomasia.net. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ONE, Jay Furness. "Jackie Buntan plans to expose 'careless' Smilla Sundell in ONE world title fight". MMA Underground. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  7. "'I Don't Think Anything In Life Compares To This' – Smilla Sundell Reflects On Historic World Title Win". MSN. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  8. "WORLD RANKINGS: APRIL 2023". WBC Muaythai. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  9. "'I Don't Like To Fail' – How World Title Challenger Smilla Sundell Rocketed To Muay Thai Fame At 17". ONE Championship. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  10. "ONE 156's Smilla Sundell: A Teenager in a Title Fight". Combat Press. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. "Exclusive Interview: The Youngest World Champion". Fight Sports. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  12. "Smilla Sundell Nr#1 på WBC:s Muay Thai-ranking". Fighter Magazine (in Swedish). 6 February 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  13. "Teen Star Sundell, Former Champ Kadestam Score Knockouts On ONE: FULL CIRCLE Lead Card". ONE Championship. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  14. Championship, O. N. E. "Smilla Sundell, Juara Dunia Termuda ONE Championship". CNN (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  15. Richards, Vince. ""They were supportive, and they think I could do it if I want to" - Smilla Sundell looks to her family for inspiration in her fight career". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  16. "ONE 156: Sundell, Buntan agree 'we'll meet again' after brutal battle". South China Morning Post. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  17. ""I Can Beat Her" – 17-Year-Old Smilla Sundell Extremely Confident She Can Surprise Jackie Buntan to Win ONE World Championship". EssentiallySports. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  18. "Tag: smilla sundell muay thai". Ultimate Athlete News. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  19. Tafari, Ashah (22 April 2022). "Smilla Sundell wins ONE world title, makes history as the youngest-ever champion". Frontkick.online. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  20. Wheaton, Timothy. ""It's my biggest dream coming true" - Smilla Sundell at age 17 makes ONE history as youngest champion". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  21. "Teenage champion Smilla Sundell is shopping for cereal!". Asian MMA. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  22. "Chatri Sityodtong Awards 4 Performance Bonuses At ONE 156". ONE Championship – The Home of Martial Arts. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  23. "Smilla Sundell ("The Storm") | Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
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