Jackie Buntan is “ready to shock the world” winning inaugural One strawweight Muay Thai title
After a perfect 2021, going 3-0 in One Championship, undefeated phenom-Jackie Buntan is ready to make history in just a few short days. Certainly, earning her stripes within the promotion, Buntan will be vying for One Championship’s inaugural women’s strawweight Muay Thai title. Her opponent on the evening will be none other than 17-year-old Swedish superstar, Smilla “The Hurricane” Sundell. Sundell made a splash in her One debut, stopping Diandra Martin in February. In what’s expected to be an epic matchup, these ladies will serve as the co-main event of the evening.
“It feels surreal,” Buntan says on the cusp of history. “I’ve been doing this for so long,” she continues. “Along with the grind comes the routine. Your boring routine,” she elaborates. “But I love it,” she quickly follows. “Sometimes I have to really sit back and think about where I started and where I came from and how far I got here from day one,” Buntan recollects. “Really, it’s a surreal feeling to compete and make history in One Championship!”
“It’s hard to encapsulate but it’s an overwhelming feeling of mixed emotions,” Buntan says. “It’s so much gratitude, excitement, nerves,” she elaborates. “It’s literally everything when I think about it,” she says with an endearing chuckle. “But at the same time, I try not to think about it in that way to put so much pressure on myself but I’m well aware of the magnitude this is,” she reminds herself.
Before the belt, however, comes the bout! Buntan is fully aware of the threat she has ahead of her in the coming days. “She’s really coming at you,” she says about Sundell. “I think anyone coming at you with that aggression, there’s always going to be holes,” Buntan reveals. “There’s always going to be mistakes available for them to make and I’ve definitely seen them, my coach has seen them,” she admits. “I think with me as a fighter, I really am confident I have adaptability. I can adapt in a fight camp, during the fight and I think that is my main thing in this fight.”
Since starting her journey into Muay Thai, Buntan has willingly put in the grueling, grinding, and unforgiving work to make her ultimate dream become a reality. On the cusp of living out her dream, Buntan is itching to prove to the world the champion she already knows that she is. “It’s been a dream of mine for so long. I’m ready to get it going. I’m ready to shock the world and prove to myself why I know I’m a world champion.”
One Championship: Reloaded is scheduled to take place this Friday, April 22nd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. With 16 fights scheduled in total, two titles will be up for grabs as Regina Eersel will defend his Lightweight kickboxing title as he takes on Arian Sadikovic in the main event of the evening. The co-main event of the evening will feature Jackie Buntan taking on Smilla Sundell for the inaugural women’s strawweight Muay Thai title. You can catch the entire card streaming live on the ONE Championship app, with the main card taking place at 8:30 a.m. ET with the prelims to follow at 4:30 a.m. ET.
Tune in above to hear from one half of the co-main event for One Championship: Reloaded, Jackie Buntan. She reminisces on her journey in Muay Thai, from the beginning to her title opportunity. She touches on the thought of potentially making history. We talk about the holes she sees in Sundell’s game. Buntan also discusses her opinion on mixed rules fights and if we can expect that in her future!
