Reigning ONE Championship strawweight Muay Thai champion Smilla Sundell will be back in action next month. The Swedish fighter has been booked to face Milana Bjelogrlic in a non title fight at Lumpinee Stadium on May 26th.
The news was broken by a Swedish MMA website just now. Teenage champion Sundell has waited over a year to make the first defence of the title she won by beating Jackie Buntan at ONE 156.
But at 18 years old time is definitely on Sundell’s side. She fights out of the Fairtex Gym and is based permanently in Thailand.
View this post on Instagram
Bikini body builder
Her opponent will be making her promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 18. Bjelogrlic is based at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket and appears to be a champion bikini body builder as well as a competitive fighter.
According to MMA NYTT the fight is set for a catchweight of 128lbs which is slightly above the strawweight limit at ONE Championship. Fighters are normally required to weigh 125lbs or less while passing hydration tests in order to compete in this division.
Jackie Buntan is coming off an impressive win at ONE Fight Night 10 and wants a rematch with Sundell. But her priority appears to be the strawweight kickboxing title.
View this post on Instagram
Immediate impact
Without an obvious contender for her Muay Thai crown Sundell is taking what appears to be a time up fight. Local pride will be on the line with the Swedish fighter representing the Fairtex Gym and Bjelogrlic fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai.
Sundell came from nowhere to beat two opponents and win the ONE Championship strawweight Muay Thai title last year. Bjelogrlic finds herself in a similar situation and will be looking to make an immediate impact on her promotional debut.
ONE Friday Fights 18, Bangkok, May 26th
Milana Bjelogrlic vs. Smilla Sundell (Catchweight)
