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James Goyder

Jackie Buntan said she is the “underdog” when she faces Anissa Meksen for the newly minted strawweight kickboxing title at ONE 169.
Despite being a ONE Championship veteran of seven fights and among the top female competitors on the roster for the past four years, this will be her first kickboxing match.
Meksen, meanwhile, has never competed in the top division but Buntan still has the French-Algerian as favourite.
“On paper, I’m the underdog,” Buntan said. “It’s my first kickboxing fight.
“She has more than double the experience. She’s a multiple-time world champion.”

Meksen is a former kickboxing champion with Glory and Buntan, who has competed in Muay Thai throughout her career, said her situation is reminiscent of her ONE Championship debut in 2021.
“It just reminds me of going into my first fight with Wondergirl,” Buntan said. “I was a big underdog, odds stacked against me, and that’s my motivation – just go out there and showcase a new style every time I fight.”
Buntan’s debut ended in a lopsided decision victory as her more experienced Thai opponent suffered a broken jaw courtesy of a right hook which landed inside the first three minutes.
While most of Buntan’s wins have come by way of decision, she did land the first finish of her amateur or professional career when she knocked out Diandra Martin at ONE Fight Night 10 last year.
“I’m very confident in the strength and power that I have and the athleticism that I have,” Buntan said. “I make sure to have no short cuts when it comes to strength transitioning into technique.
“I want to make sure that I’m doing the technique correctly, with full power.”
Buntan’s previous ONE Championship fights have all taken place under Muay Thai rules, meaning that she has worn the smaller MMA style gloves but kickboxing rules dictate fighters use traditional boxing gloves, which are much larger.
However, the 27-year-old said the change would not affect her power.
“I think, just like all my matches, that’s definitely going to be one of my strong suits,” she said. “It doesn’t matter that the gloves are bigger. I think the strength is still going to be there.”

Meksen joined ONE Championship with a big reputation, having won numerous titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai and has over 100 fights under her belt.
But Buntan said next month’s fight in Bangkok will be business as usual and she is not overawed by her opponent’s impressive career achievements.
“The stage I’m at, it’s all high-level opponents,” Buntan said. “Everyone’s worthy of being there, so I don’t take anyone lightly.
“Whoever wants to stand in front of me, I just view it as a completely new situation.”
Buntan fought for the strawweight Muay Thai title in 2022 but was on the wrong side of a bruising decision loss to Smilla Sundell.
And the Filipino said going one better at ONE 169 would be the culmination of a lifelong dream.
“It would mean the world. Absolutely everything,” Buntan said. “That’s obviously the end goal, you want to work towards something that solidifies your greatness, that solidifies your name in the sport.”


ONE Championship: Ayaka Miura v Macarena Aragon, 2 other bouts complete line-up for ONE 169

ONE Championship: Tawanchai PKSaenchaigym puts title on line at scene of Russell Crowe film

ONE Championship: Rodtang Jitmuangnon wary of ‘slow’ but durable Jacob Smith in title bout

ONE Championship: Anissa Meksen hopes to cap off career with strawweight kickboxing crown

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Buntan an ‘underdog’ in kickboxing title with Meksen at ONE 169

Jackie Buntan believes she is the underdog as she faces Anissa Meksen for the strawweight kickboxing title at ONE 169. Photo: ONE Championship

Jackie Buntan (left) in action during her victorious ONE Championship debut against Wondergirl in 2021. Photo: ONE Championship

Jackie Buntan (left) lands a punch during her ONE Championship bout with Amber Kitchen. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship makes ‘few dozen’ job cuts amid plans to bring company to profitability

ONE chief executive Chatri Sityodtong said in an email to staff that the job cuts were made despite the company being “on the verge of profitability”. 

Singapore state investment firm Temasek Holdings is among ONE Championship’s investors. Photo: Bloomberg

ONE Championship: China’s Zhang Peimian faces former kickboxing champion at ONE 169

Zhang Peimian will face former strawweight kickboxing champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at Lumpinee Stadium on November 9. Photo: ONE Championship

Qatar sovereign wealth fund reportedly in US$50m funding round for ONE Championship backers

ONE Championship held its ONE 168 event at the Ball Arena in Denver, United States, last month. Photo: ONE Championship

Hua Fung Teh (centre) with Ali Al-Thani (left) and Dr Abdulla Al-Thani at the Qatar Economic Forum in 2022. 

ONE championship: Jonathan Haggerty opens up on devastating defeat to Superlek Kiatmoo9

Jonathan Haggerty shows respect after losing his Muay Thai bantamweight title to Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168. Photo: ONE Championship

Jonathan Haggerty is floored by Superlek Kiatmoo9 just 49 seconds into their Muay Thai bantamweight title battle at ONE 168. Photo: ONE Championship

Superlek Kiatmoo9 celebrates after securing the Muay Thai bantamweight title belt with a 49-second knockout of Jonathan Haggerty. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Jackie Buntan to face Anissa Meksen in strawweight title bout at ONE 169

Anissa Meksen (pictured) is set to fight Jackie Buntan at ONE 169, after their original fight was postponed. Photo: ONE Championship

Jackie Buntan (left) lands a punch during her fight with Wondergirl. Photo: ONE Championship

Sport

Martial Arts

Despite being a ONE Championship veteran of seven fights, this will be her first kickboxing match


Despite being a ONE Championship veteran of seven fights, this will be her first kickboxing match.
