Jackie Buntan says she's perfected the art to turn pressure into motivation: "I've learned how to balance that mindset"
There's always pressure that comes with fighting, especially in a setting as big as the global stage of ONE Championship. But it's one that Jackie Buntan has learned to adapt to throughout her career.
The Filipino-American superstar returns for her eighth dance under the promotional banner at ONE 169, eager to tick off one of her longtime goals as a martial artist.
She faces multi-time kickboxing world champion Anissa Meksen for the inaugural ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world title inside the revered Lumpinee Stadium on Nov. 8.
Ahead of the contest, the Boxing Works athlete touched a bit on how she's dealt with pressure over the years, and how she's tackling the same scenario heading into her next showdown.
Jackie Buntan told Sportskeeda MMA:
"Throughout these years, I've learned how to balance that mindset, that thought, of not putting too much pressure on myself. I kinda use it as motivation to go out there and do everything I've trained my whole life for."
If she can channel that negative energy to spur her to success on fight night, there's every reason to believe that Buntan can pick up one of the most iconic wins of her career and the ONE gold she's long had her eyes on.
Catch her in action by tuning in to ONE 169, available to active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North America live in U.S. primetime for free.
Jackie Buntan says a world title win will go a long way in her career
In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, Jackie Buntan talked about what it would mean to walk out of the Mecca of Muay Thai as the promotion's first strawweight kickboxing queen.
The 27-year-old Muay Thai specialist said:
"There's more to it [than just winning a world title]. But that's obviously the end goal, is you want to work toward something that solidifies your greatness, that solidifies your name in the sport."