Jackie Buntan

Former ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Jackie Buntan began her martial arts journey as a pre-teen training at Boxing Works in Southern California with renowned Muay Thai coach Bryan Popejoy and now-retired ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing and Interim Muay Thai World Champion Janet “JT” Todd.

Buntan’s hard work and dedication to Muay Thai eventually earned her the opportunity to represent the United States at the IFMA Pan American Championship in 2018, where she bagged a win for her country.

The Filipino-American made her ONE debut in 2021, scorching rising Thai star Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak. Her ambition to become the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion was momentarily halted, however, when she met Smilla “The Hurricane” Sundell for the inaugural strap.

Since then, Buntan has bounced back, winning three straight bouts to earn a crack at the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title. In November 2024, she defeated the legendary Anissa Meksen to claim the belt and enter the history books.

Although the California native would drop the gold to Austrian rival Stella Hemetsberger in February 2025, she is committed to regain it and finally win the division’s Muay Thai belt.