Filipino MMA champion Jackie Buntan draws inspiration from her dog ahead of historic ONE title bid

Filipino-American striking star Jackie Buntan continues to etch her name in ONE Championship history. On November 9, she became the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion after a spectacular victory at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

But Buntan isn’t stopping there. On September 5, she will return to the same iconic venue to challenge Austria’s Stella Hemetsberger for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 35. A win would make the 28-year-old one of the rare athletes to hold world titles in two different sports within the promotion.

“If I can pull this off, it would mean everything — not just for me, but for the Philippines too,” Buntan said in an interview with ONE Championship.

Beyond her dominance in the ring, Buntan draws strength from an unexpected source — her adopted dog, Jack.

“I got Jack in 2019 when he was just three months old. I was 22 then, still living with my dad. He’s a mutt who looks like a terrier, and he’s been with me through everything — from nights out with friends to the grind of training camps. We grew up together,” she shared.

Elegance meets ferocity ✨ Don’t miss Jackie Buntan’s battle with Stella Hemetsberger for strawweight Muay Thai gold at ONE Fight Night 35 on @PrimeVideo!#ONEFightNight35 | Sep 5 at 9PM ET
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime
🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on Sky Sports
🌍 Live TV broadcast in 190+… pic.twitter.com/sjmSHPi2uP

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 18, 2025

Buntan admits that Jack provides a sense of emotional balance, especially during the pressures of fight week and long training camps away from home.

“Even if I’m only gone for a few hours, I just want to come home to him. When I travel for fights, I’m usually away for a week or more. But no matter what, that unconditional love is always there,” she added.

Standing in her way is Hemetsberger, a rising force training out of the renowned Phuket Fight Club alongside ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues.

The matchup also marks a return to Buntan’s martial arts roots. Despite holding the kickboxing crown, she acknowledges that Muay Thai presents unique physical and mental challenges.

Born and raised in the United States but proudly Filipino at heart, Buntan has already made history in ONE Championship. Now, she looks to elevate her legacy further — and bring another world title home to the Philippines.

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