Jackie Buntan confident to capture kickboxing gold over Anissa Meksen, then eyes Muay Thai belt "next year"

Jackie Buntan aspires to win multiple world championships. For now, she is fixated on claiming the inaugural ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world championship over Anissa Meksen at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Buntan shared her plan to become a two-sport ONE world champion in 2025:

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"Yeah, it's a goal. Saturday, I'm gonna become the kickboxing world champion, and then enjoy the holidays. Then next year, go for the Muay Thai belt as well."

Watch the entire interview below:

The Filipino-American fought for the inaugural ONE women's strawweight Muay Thai world championship in April 2022 against Swedish phenom Smilla Sundell but fell short via unanimous decision.

After a spectacular defense against ONE women's atomweight Muay Thai queen Allycia Hellen Rodrigues in September the following year, 'The Hurricane' was forced to vacate the throne before her defense against Natalia Diachkova this past May due to missing weight.

Buntan is certainly aware of the situation in the 125-pound women's Muay Thai division, but she will first need to overcome the storm that 'C18' promises to unleash at ONE 169.

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Jackie Buntan appreciates opportunity to fight an all-time great like Anissa Meksen

Jackie Buntan recognizes she will not always have the chance to fight someone who has accomplished so much in the striking arts as Anissa Meksen.

The 27-year-old recently told Beyond Kick:

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"I was excited to get an opponent like Anissa. She's a legend in the game. She's very accomplished, more experienced. But for any athlete, not just in combat sports - that's what you want."

ONE 169 will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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