“A little bit immature” - Jackie Buntan admits putting too much pressure on herself in first title fight vs Smilla Sundell

Jackie Buntan admittedly bit off more than she could chew in her first attempt to claim ONE Championship gold.

After flying through a rousing 3-0 start in the world's largest martial arts organization, the Filipina-American earned a well-deserved shot at the inaugural women's strawweight Muay Thai world title back in 2022.

Unfortunately for Buntan, she was outclassed for five rounds by the sensational Smilla Sundell at ONE 156.

Recalling that learning experience in a ONE Championship interview, the Boxing Works affiliate acknowledged that she got too ahead of herself and paid the price.

"At that time I was 24, three years younger than I am now, and a little bit immature with the mindset. I think I was still mature, but immature in the sense of like, ‘I need to do this and if it doesn't happen by the time I'm 25 or before 25, then you're done. You might as well just stop yourself in your tracks.'"

Rewatch Jackie Buntan vs Smila Sundell here:

Setbacks are indeed the best set-ups for a comeback, and Jackie Buntan rose like a phoenix after that humbling defeat.

The 27-year-old striker racked off three consecutive victories since, and will now have the opportunity to redeem herself at ONE 169: Malykhin vs Reug Reug for 26 pounds of gold.

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Anissa Meksen looking to follow Smilla Sundell's lead to beat Jackie Buntan

This coming Friday, live in US Primetime, Jackie Buntan will vie for the inaugural women's strawweight kickboxing crown inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Filipina-American fan-favorite, though, will figure in arguably the toughest fight of her career against decorated striker Anissa Meksen.

'C18' has already done her due diligence on Buntan and said she'll take a page out of Sundell's playbook to squash her opponent's title aspirations.

The Phuket Fight Club representative said in an interview with the South China Morning Post:

"Yeah, because Smilla [Sundell] is very tall, she’s very strong, and she pushed her. She stepped forward a lot, and she didn’t like it. That’s why maybe there’s something there that I could do in our fight."

Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada can watch ONE 169 free of charge on Nov. 8.