By:  | May 27, 2023 2:25 pm

At Lumpinee Stadium on Friday night Smilla Sundell fought for the first time since winning the ONE Championship strawweight Muay Thai title. The Swedish teenager was competing under kickboxing rules but dominated Milana Bjelogrlic from start to finish to claim the decision win.

Bjelogrlic looked to land haymakers while Sundell was throwing jabs and straight knees. The Swedish fighter showcased some impressive boxing skills, frequently following a straight right hand with a left hook to the body.

Sundell also adjusted well to the kickboxing rules, landing straight knees from the clinch without staying there long enough to attract the referees attention.

Bjelogrlic was constantly looking to alter the course of the fight with one big shot but in the process she left herself wide open to the Swedish fighter’s slick combinations. The Serbian’s philosophy seemed to be that ‘attack is the best form of defence’ but she was getting hit with far more frequency than she was landing.

Head and body

Bjelogrlic kept throwing right to the final bell and by the end both strawweights looked exhausted. But while her haymakers seldom connected with any real force Sundell’s knees to the head and body consistently found their mark.

Sundell seamlessly made the transition from Muay Thai to kickboxing and can clearly be a contender for the strawweight title under the latter ruleset. She won by unanimous decision to extend her undefeated streak with ONE Championship, but Bjelogrlic deserves credit for never giving up.

Best of the rest

In the main event Pongsiri PKSaenchaigym and  Tyson Harrison put on a real show for the fans. The Thai emerged as the winner but both men walked away with $10,000 USD bonuses at the end of this catchweight contest.

ONE Friday Fights 18, Bangkok, May 26th
Pongsiri PKSaenchaigym def. Tyson Harrison via Decision (Unanimous)
Samingdam Chor Ajalaboon def. Mahamongkol MoveOnChiangmai via Decision (Unanimous)
Teeyai PKSaenchaigym def. Saklek Kiatsongrit via KO (Flying knee) at 0:58 of R2
Rit Kaewsamrit def. Sansiri PKSaenchaigym via KO (Punch) at 0:33 of R2
ChatAnan Sor Jor JoyPrajin def. Suphachailek Nengsubyai via TKO (Referee stoppage) at 2:41 of R2
Petnumkhum Phundakrataburi def. Petkritsada CMA Academy via KO (Punch) at 0:46 of R1
Kickboxing: Mohammed Siasarani def. Mohammed Boutasaa via Decision (Unanimous)
Lightweight Chanajon PKSaenchaigym def. Victor Hugo via Decision (Unanimous)
Kickboxing: Smilla Sundell def. Milana Bjelogrlić via Decision (Unanimous)
Johan Ghazali def. Thailand Tai Sor Jor Piek-U-Thai via KO (Punch) at 1:37 of R3
MMA: Andrey Chelbaev def. Manthan Rane via Decision (Unanimous)
MMA: Ali Kabdulla def. Richard Godoy via TKO (Knee and elbow) at 1:38 of R3