Chatri Sityodtong Empathizes With Smilla Sundell, Shares Advice He Gave to Swedish Striker

ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong is a lifelong martial artist, and he understands the challenges fighters go through in their careers.

In the main event of ONE Fight Night 22 earlier this month, the ONE chief witnessed Smilla “The Hurricane” Sundell come back from the brink of defeat to knock out surging Russian Natalia Diachkova inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Chatri Sityodtong addresses Smilla Sundell’s disappointment

Unfortunately, “The Hurricane” had been stripped of the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title just hours before for missing weight. As a result, she was also deemed ineligible to win it back in the fight.

Following her victory, Sundell said she hopes to reclaim the belt in her next fight, and she also called for a women’s flyweight division to be created.

Speaking to Nic Atkin of SK MMA, Sityodtong offered a response to the teen striker’s suggestion. 

“We have been looking at the flyweight division for quite some time now, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we did something within the next few months or something,” he said. 

“But at the same time, my agreement with Smilla, for her own legacy and her own brand, she shouldn’t leave the division and leave the title the way she did, right? Missing weight, losing on the scales, so to speak.”

Sundell became the youngest World Champion in the history of the promotion when she won the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title at the age of 17 in April 2022.

Sityodtong discussed this and explained how he believed it was both a blessing and a curse for the Swede. 

“At the same time, I empathize. When she won the title, she was 17 years old, 5-foot-8. Today, she’s 5-foot-11, you know. I think we all remember what our teenage growth spurts were like,” he said.

Despite the disappointment, Sundell is looking forward to ONE Fight Night 23

Sundell had been aiming to chase two-sport glory at strawweight before her disappointment on the scales at ONE Fight Night 22.

Though she may have her heart set on moving up in weight, should a suitable division be introduced in ONE Championship, there is little doubt she’ll be watching the ONE Fight Night 23 main event on Friday, July 5.

That evening, her former rival, Jackie Buntan, will contest the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title against striking legend Anissa Meksen. 

Whatever the outcome of that battle is, fans can bet “The Hurricane” will be considering her options in the weight bracket afterward.