Filipino MMA World Champion Jackie Buntan honors late father ahead of ONE Fight Night 35

Filipino-American kickboxing star Jackie Buntan made history on November 9 by capturing the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Now, the 28-year-old standout is looking to etch her name in history once again by becoming a two-sport world champion. Buntan is set to face Austria’s Stella Hemetsberger for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 35 on September 5, also at Lumpinee Stadium.

While Buntan has largely kept her personal life private, she recently opened up about the passing of her father, who battled cancer for two years. She said the experience continues to fuel her drive inside the circle.

Jackie Buntan claimed the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing title! In 2025, she looks to return to Muay Thai, chasing a second belt in another striking discipline.

Check out the rest of my interview with her on YouTube#JackieBuntan #OneChampionship #MuayThai #Kickboxing pic.twitter.com/YEr54BtyQm

— alexandra (@alexwendlingX) December 12, 2024

“My father was dealing with that cancer battle for pretty much two years. Close people around me knew, but I don’t often share personal things,” Buntan revealed. “It was important to open up so others who’ve gone through the same loss know they’re not alone.”

A victory over Hemetsberger would elevate Buntan into rarified air, joining the short list of two-sport ONE World Champions, a feat achieved by only a handful of fighters in the promotion’s history.

But Hemetsberger poses a serious challenge. Training out of the renowned Phuket Fight Club, the Austrian striker has risen quickly through the ranks and hones her skills alongside elite talents, including ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues.

Buntan enters the matchup three inches shorter than her opponent, though she has already proven her ability to overcome taller foes, with wins over Amber Kitchen, Diandra Martin, and Anissa Meksen.

Born and raised in the United States but proudly carrying her Filipino heritage, Buntan has established herself as one of ONE Championship’s brightest stars. With another world title on the line, she hopes to bring more glory to the Philippines and further solidify her legacy as one of the promotion’s all-time greats.

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