ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan Vs Hemetsberger - Five Burning Questions Ahead Of September 5 Showdowns

This Friday, September 5, ONE Championship returns to Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium with ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger on Prime Video.

The card is full of intrigue – from a vacant World Title showdown to pivotal clashes that could reshape both the featherweight Muay Thai and MMA landscapes. Some athletes are chasing redemption, others are defending unbeaten streaks, and a few are daring to shock the world.

By the end of the night, fans will finally have answers to five burning questions that loom over several divisions.

#1 Can Hemetsberger Shock Buntan In ONE World Title Main Event?

The vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title hangs in the balance as ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan takes on Austria’s striking ace Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger.

For Buntan, the main event clash is a chance to follow in the footsteps of her teammate and mentor Janet “JT” Todd, who once held ONE World Titles in both Muay Thai and kickboxing. Already the reigning strawweight kickboxing queen, the Filipino-American could etch her name into history as a two-sport World Champion.

But Hemetsberger enters with serious momentum. She tore through the ONE Friday Fights circuit with three consecutive wins, capped by a devastating high-kick KO of Vanessa Romanowski that earned her a US$100,000 contract and a direct call-up to the main roster.

Now, the Austrian faces one of the world’s most refined strikers, while Buntan looks to erase the memory of her failed Muay Thai World Title bid at ONE 156 three years ago.

#2 Which Featherweight Will Stake Claim For Tawanchai’s Throne?

While Tawanchai PK Saenchai reigns supreme at featherweight, ONE Fight Night 35 could reveal who’s best positioned to challenge him next.

Second-ranked contender Bampara “Bambi Firelek” Kouyate has exploded onto the scene with knockout power that few can match. He stunned fans by rallying to stop Luke “The Chef” Lessei before blowing away “Smokin'” Jo Nattawut in the very first round. His volatility makes him a constant danger – one strike can end the night.

Across the ring, third-ranked Shadow Singha Mawynn brings pedigree and consistency. The former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion has strung together five wins over elite opposition, cementing himself as a technician who thrives against the best.

This pivotal showdown could decide who steps up as Tawanchai’s next challenger in one of the sport’s deepest divisions.

#3 Can Abdullaev Keep His Perfect Slate Against Dauev’s World-Class Wrestling?

Kyrgyz knockout machine and #1-ranked Akbar “Bakal” Abdullaev is 12-0 with a 100 percent finishing rate, including four global victories that he racked up in just 20 minutes of ring time.

But at ONE Fight Night 35, he may be facing his toughest stylistic hurdle yet. Standing across from him is Russia’s Ibragim Dauev, a grinder who’s riding a 10-fight win streak and sharpening his game alongside two-division ONE MMA World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin.

With recent wins over previously-undefeated Pedro Dantas and Magomed Akaev, Dauev has shown he can shut down explosive opponents and drag them into deep waters.

Abdullaev wants to punch his ticket back to a rematch with reigning ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai, but to get there, he must first prove that his finishing instincts can survive against Dauev’s relentless wrestling pressure.

#4 Will Tye Ruotolo’s Grappling Wizardry Translate Against Adrian Lee?

As the reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion, Tye Ruotolo has already proven himself among the pound-for-pound elite in jiu-jitsu. Now, he’s entering an entirely new realm.

Standing across from him will be Adrian “The Phenom” Lee, the youngest member of the famed Lee family who’s already 3-0 in MMA with all three wins by submission.

At just 19, the Hawaiian prodigy has displayed a well-rounded game, finishing instincts, and the poise of someone far beyond his years.

Ruotolo has been untouchable on the mats, but MMA is another beast – and Lee already has far more experience under those rules. Their clash will answer whether Ruotolo’s ground mastery can overwhelm Lee’s versatile MMA arsenal.

#5 Which Young Striker Will Make The Loudest Statement?

ONE Fight Night 35 is also a showcase for the next wave of striking talent – and several names could break through with career-defining performances.

Teenage sensation Johan “Jojo” Ghazali seeks redemption after back-to-back setbacks. With his knockout power, a highlight-reel finish could reignite the rise of this 18-year-old Malaysian-American phenom.

Colombia’s Jordan “Panda Kick” Estupinan has been flawless in his two promotional outings, dominating Freddie Haggerty in his debut before outclassing Ali Saldoev. Now 9-0, the 22-year-old dynamo looks every bit like a future contender.

He meets Japan’s Hyu next, another 22-year-old phenom who’s already made a splash with three emphatic victories in ONE. His precision and composure could soon place him among the flyweight elite.

And don’t overlook #4-ranked Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon. The 22-year-old bantamweight has quietly built a three-fight winning streak and could use a strong showing against Dmitrii Kovtun to force his way into the World Title picture.

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