‘I Just Want To Really Enjoy This Moment’ – Johanna Persson’s Journey From Swedish Coastal Town To ONE Championship

Swedish sensation Johanna Persson has the opportunity of a lifetime when she challenges reigning queen Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship on Friday, July 11.

That career-defining clash is set for the main event of ONE Fight Night 33: Rodrigues vs. Persson on Prime Video, and it will mark the 30-year-old’s promotional debut in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Persson, who splits her time training at Gefle Fight Camp and Sitjaopho Muaythai, has an opportunity to achieve what few professional fighters ever get the chance to do – capture World Title gold in their first ONE Championship appearance.

Before this high-stakes battle goes down live in U.S. primetime at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, we look at the Scandinavian athlete’s remarkable road to ONE’s global stage.

Family Bonds To Fighting Dreams

Persson’s journey began in the picturesque coastal town of Gavle, Sweden, where she was raised by her parents, Lars and Birgitta, alongside her older brother, Carl, in a close-knit household that emphasized family values above all else.

The Swedish striker told onefc.com that her upbringing was built on a foundation of togetherness and hard work:

“I grew up in a simple household where my parents worked hard and made sure our family maintained a good bond every time. We ate together, went out together, and did a lot of other things such as holidays and vacations together.”

Like most children in the country, Persson gravitated toward outdoor activities and sports, with soccer becoming her primary athletic passion during her teenage years.

Though she flourished in the game as a goal-scoring forward, her competitive fire, unfortunately, often got the better of her.

Persson confessed:

“I was playing soccer when I was young, when I was 15 or 16. I was pretty aggressive when I played soccer. I had a lot of red cards due to a lot of fouls.”

Persson’s discovery of Muay Thai came through pure chance during her university years. 

She spotted her friend hitting the pads during a class conducted by her future coach David Lehnberg at Gefle Fight Camp, and in a matter of weeks, she signed up and forged her path into the striking world.

The Swede recalled:

“I started training because I needed something to do and just for some exercise. And then, when I was three months in, my coach asked me if I wanted to fight. After that, my training had more of a purpose, and then I was hooked, and the rest, as they say, is history. I just continued doing it.”

A Rapid Rise To The Top

Persson’s entry into Muay Thai at 23 years old represented the beginning of a remarkable seven-year journey that would take her from a complete novice to a World Champion.

She quickly established herself in Sweden’s amateur scene with a string of victories punctuated by memorable knockouts. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought amateur competition to an abrupt halt, forcing a crucial decision about her future.

While initially uncertain about what the lockdowns meant for her career trajectory, Coach Lehnberg quickly recognized the opportunity to accelerate her development by transitioning to the professional ranks.

Persson said:

“The transition wasn’t that hard, actually. It was seamless, I think. I continued fighting the same way I’ve always fought. But the transition to professional [competition] happened really quickly, ahead of its time, because it came during COVID-19.”

Within two years, Persson joined Sweden’s national Muay Thai team and represented her country at the World Championships in Bangkok in December 2021.

Persson’s international ascent continued with victories across multiple promotions. She would even claim the WMC Nordic Title, WMC European Title, and ISKA Strawweight Muay Thai Title along the way.

But the crowning achievement came this past April when she stepped into enemy territory and defeated Rhona Walker in Scotland to claim the prestigious WBC Muay Thai World Championship.

That moment still gives her goosebumps to this day:

“It felt unreal because I have [won] a few belts before, but the green and gold has been in my mind for a long time. When I got the belt, I automatically felt like this is where I should be, this is where I feel most at home.”

Unlocking Her Dreams In ONE Championship

Persson’s relentless pursuit of excellence has finally brought her to ONE, where she will test her skills against the best martial artists on the global stage.

This moment represents the culmination of the blood, sweat, and tears she has poured into her career since first stepping into the gym back in 2018.

As Coach Lehnberg explained, their entire strategic approach has been centered around securing a spot in the world’s largest martial arts organization, making this main event appearance at ONE Fight Night 33 the realization of their ultimate goal.

Now, with the chance to capture the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship, Persson, who’s riding a seven-fight winning streak, stands on the verge of her greatest accomplishment yet.

The Swedish sensation has embraced meticulous mental preparation for this career-defining moment, understanding that success at this level requires more than just physical readiness.

She said:

“I am trying to see everything and visualizing how the fight goes. From walking to the ring to the first seconds of the fight, the rounds, and all that stuff. I am trying to get used to the feeling and getting used to everything around this opportunity, too. Above all, I’m going to do everything I normally do before a fight.”

It’s not often that fighters receive the opportunity to challenge for a World Title in their first promotional appearance on ONE’s global stage, and Persson is well aware of that.

But instead of allowing the magnitude of this opportunity create overwhelming pressure, the Swede has chosen to embrace the moment with genuine appreciation for how rare such chances truly are.

Persson offered:

“I am just trying to enjoy the moment because how many times will this happen to me? I don’t know. Pressure aside, I just want to really enjoy this moment instead of feeling nervous or anxious.”

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