Filipino MMA world champion Jackie Buntan aiming for redemption against Stella Hemetsberger at ONE Fight Night 40

Filipino-American kickboxing sensation Jackie Buntan has firmly established herself as one of the premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters to emerge from the Philippines. Her rise to prominence was cemented on November 9, when she made history by capturing the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand—a feat that highlighted her technical prowess, grit, and dedication to her craft.

Buntan is now preparing for what promises to be a highly anticipated showdown as she defends her Strawweight Kickboxing World Title against Austria’s Stella Hemetsberger in the main event of ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, also at Lumpinee Stadium. The matchup carries an added layer of intensity, as it serves as a rematch of their previous encounter at ONE Fight Night 35 in September 2025, where Buntan narrowly fell short in the fight for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.

In that contest, Buntan suffered a unanimous decision defeat in the fifth round, a fight she describes as both challenging and instructive. Despite the loss, the 28-year-old fighter remained steadfast, confident that she had landed the more effective exchanges even if the scorecards told a different story.

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“That night was a big night for me—obviously, trying to chase double gold, two-sport World Champ status. It didn’t go my way. I lost the fight by a point. I think I had the better exchanges, but on the scorecards, mathematically, she was the one who was able to pick it up,” Buntan said.

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The defeat marked just the second loss in her ONE Championship career across nine fights, but Buntan remains focused on the positives, particularly her resilience in overcoming early adversity in the bout.

“That specific loss, especially how it happened—getting knocked down twice in the first round but staying in it and picking it up in rounds two through five—I think that’s the definition of me as a fighter, as an athlete. There’s no quit in me,” she added.

Buntan has studied her Austrian rival extensively and believes she has identified vulnerabilities in Hemetsberger’s striking game that she can exploit in the rematch. Her strategy will combine superior movement, tactical awareness, and precision striking to capitalize on the gaps she has observed.

“I think she has holes. I see the holes she leaves open as she strikes, both punching and kicking. I think I’m better with movement. I’m able to cut her off, whether that’s going backwards, left, right, circling, or going forward. If she wants to stand in front of me, I think it’s a dangerous game,” Buntan concluded.

As the fight approaches, anticipation is building among fans in both the Philippines and the global MMA community. A victory would not only allow Buntan to avenge her previous defeat but also solidify her status as one of the most complete and versatile female fighters in the sport today. With her combination of skill, heart, and determination, Buntan is eager to prove that her reign in the ONE Championship ring is far from over.

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