'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jackie Buntan penned a heartfelt message to her late father who succumbed to colon cancer earlier this week.
The reigning ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world champion paid tribute to her dad Jessie on Instagram, and wrote that it was a painful moment she struggled to keep private:
"I choose to keep parts of my life private but when you lose a piece of yourself, it’s hard to keep things in. Yesterday I lost my dad to Stage 4 Colon Cancer- a battle he’s been fighting for a little over 1.5 years. A far from perfect dad but he was my dad. I’ll miss the one person I could always prank and mess around with. We could always be goofy together."
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
"I find so much peace in knowing you’re finally at rest, dad. I hope you’re on a cruise ship up there enjoying all the buffets and blasting one of your very random favorites, Ariana Grande. I love you Dad 🕊️🤍🌊"
Jackie shared some photographs of her dad when he was still living in the Philippines and moments she and Jessie spent together in California.
The Filipino-American star also shared a collage of her father supporting her in her sporting career, including a photo of Jessie holding the ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world title.
Jessie is survived by his ex-wife Rosalie Saenz, Jackie, and Jackie's three older sisters.
Deepest condolences go out to Jackie Buntan, her family, and her loved ones.
Jackie Buntan reveals her family's initial apprehension about her martial arts career
Jackie Buntan's revealed that her family wasn't initially on board with her decision to pursue a martial arts career.
In an interview with The Casuals Podcast, Jackie said her mother and older sisters initially didn't like her decision and instead wanted her to finish a college degree:
"They hated it. They were so against it, especially my older sisters. But yeah, I did it anyway. And then it was just a full year of them kind of just doubting me because I was still an amateur. So I get it. They just want the best for me. And, you know, they were all born in the Philippines."
Jackie added:
"My mom too. So, like, 'We came to America, and then you want to fight, like, what is this about? Like, you should finish college and be a nurse.'"
