ONE Championship will crown the first-ever ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug. The title tilt will surely be a barnburner with two amazing strikers slinging leather for the gold. Jackie Buntan and Anissa Meksen will mix it up as part of the stacked card on Friday, November 8.
Buntan is a noted Muay Thai star. She is coming into the world of kickboxing for the first time for this opportunity. Given her lack of experience, the Californian is walking into Lumpinee Stadium under the impression she will be the underdog.
“On paper, I’m the underdog. It’s my first kickboxing fight. She has more than double the experience. She’s a multiple-time World Champion. So, for me, it just reminds me of going into my first fight with Wondergirl. 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 commented to ONE.
Buntan said she is confident in the physical gifts she has already shown on the global stage. Her athleticism and power have made her one of Muay Thai’s brightest stars. However, against Meksen, she knows her technique will need to be impeccable to down one of the all-time greats.
“I make sure to have no shortcuts when it comes to strength transitioning into technique. I want to make sure that I’m doing the technique correctly, with full power. I think, just like all my matches, that’s definitely going to be one of my strong suits. It doesn’t matter that the gloves are bigger; I think the strength is still going to be there,” the 27-year-old remarked.
Meksen has won gold everywhere she has been, except ONE. The motivation on both sides will be intense, leading Buntan to expect an all-out war at ONE 169. The Boxing Works representative wants fans to sit back and enjoy a five-round title tilt for the ages.
“I bet on myself all the time. I think I’m going to come out victorious, even if it’s a five-round war. I have a feeling this is going to be that type of fight. I know I’m going to have to bring the dog out inside of me and bring it to her. But yeah, I expect, as corny as it is, I do expect it to be a super entertaining fight with back-and-forth action. I just think there’s going to be more action on my end,” Buntan stated.
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This will not be Buntan’s first championship bout in ONE. She attempted to claim the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 156 but fell to Smilla Sundell by unanimous decision. The 27-year-old is putting that memory in her rearview and taking this new opportunity as its own.
“On paper, yes, this is a second chance. But every fight, whether it’s a belt or if it’s just three rounds, I always think of it as a new opportunity. It’s a new fight. It’s just as important if it’s a three-round fight. It’s just as important as if it were a five-round fight for a belt. The stage I’m at, it’s all high-level opponents, and 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,” the Californian said.
Buntan is putting every ounce of energy into her preparation for this title match. Winning would be the culmination of her work and the first step in building her legacy as a champion. With all that on the line, Buntan knows the stakes for the showdown with the French-Algerian on November 8 cannot get higher.
“It would mean the world. Absolutely everything. You know, it’s the reason why I do this. There’s more to it, but that’s obviously the end goal, is you want to work towards something that solidifies your greatness, that solidifies your name in the sport. This is just the stepping stone, the first step in order to do that. I didn’t really see myself fighting professionally until my early 20s, though being able to have another chance to compete for a World Title in a different sport, it’s just an amazing opportunity that I do not take for granted at all. It means a whole lot of things to me. It’s a lifelong journey that I honestly feel like I’m just beginning,” Buntan admitted.
ONE 169 airs live on Friday, November 8, on Prime Video. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.
