“I could do whatever I want” - Kickboxing queen Jackie Buntan recalls entering a ‘flow state’ in debut win vs ‘Wondergirl’

Jackie Buntan had no problem imposing her will against Thai standout Nat Jaroonsak.

Today, Buntan is the undisputed ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion. But just three short years ago, she was a relative unknown making her first appearance on martial arts' biggest global stage against 'Wondergirl' — a two-time national Muay Thai champion who had KO'd her first two opponents under the ONE banner.

Despite the pressure of the moment and some seriously tough competition, Buntan looked nothing short of spectacular in her promotional premiere and ultimately walked away with a unanimous decision victory.

Looking back on her scrap with 'Wondergirl' at ONE: Fists of Fury, Buntan recalls imposing her will and having some fun after landing an especially nasty left.

"Right after that left [hook]. It was like, you're not even trying to go for the knockout," Buntan said on The Casuals podcast. "I could, literally, like, no disrespect, I could do whatever I want and just have fun right now. Which is like kind of entering that flow state as an athlete, where everything's just working. You're seeing everything, whatever you're putting out, is landing. It was super cool."

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Jackie Buntan talks competing in boxing gloves for the first time at ONE 169

It's been a long road for Jackie Buntan.

After making a name for herself in the art of eight limbs, the Boxing Works star finally captured her first ONE world championship at ONE 169 in Bangkok, scoring a decisive decision victory over seven-time titleholder Anissa Meksen.

Interestingly, Buntan's first 26 pounds of ONE gold didn't come in Muay Thai, but in kickboxing. In fact, her win over 'C18' in November was the first time she had ever professionally competed in boxing gloves.

"The last fight for the belt was the first fight I've done professionally with boxing gloves, which was kind of crazy," Buntan revealed. "All of my fights professionally have been with MMA gloves. So it was actually nice, like, giving your face a break."

Though she is now a kickboxing world champion, Buntan has no plans of leaving her four-ounce gloves behind anytime soon and hopes to end 2025 with not one, but two ONE world championships wrapped around her waist.

If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug replay on demand via Amazon Prime Video.