Even though Jackie Buntan is now the ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing champion, she is grateful that she is able to still live the same life.
“Honestly no, [not much has changed], and I’m kind of grateful for that. I tend to be a home-body,” she said. “Right now I’m just enjoying staying at home, doing nothing.”
Despite such a down-to-earth attitude, Buntan did just accomplish something huge by beating a legendary former GLORY Kickboxing champion like Anissa Meksen, in Jackie’s first kickboxing fight, no less.
“It means everything, when we first got this contract…I didn’t even hesitate,” Buntan told us. “I’m like okay, I asked for a kickboxing fight and they threw me in for, one, the belt, a legend in the game, pound-for-pound the best kickboxer in the world, so I knew taking this fight would create such a crazy storyline, make the victory that much sweeter… I think any athlete, this is what you want, to challenge yourself against the best.”
Now that Buntan has become the second-ever American striking (kickboxing or Muay Thai) champion in ONE Championship history, she sees the future of striking in the West on the rise, following in the footsteps of her and her teammate, Janet Todd.
“I think striking is on the rise, and American striking is 110% on the rise and I’m just so blessed to be able to be part of that, the forefront of that movement,” said the champ.” That’s all we want in the world, to get more eyes on the sport.”
Watch the rest of the interview above to get to know Jackie and what her plans for the future are.
