ONE Muay Thai star Jackie Buntan is unwilling to engage with Anissa Meksen's trash talk ahead of their inaugural ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world championship bout at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Speaking with ONE, Buntan explained why she is paying no mind to what 'C18' has been saying:
"Personally, I'm not like that. I don't think I ever have to do that. Naturally, I never have a feeling that I need to do this to get more eyes on me. It's simply just doing what I've been doing, which is training and trying to be better, and that's what will get more eyes on me."
She continued:
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"I'm not opposed to it. Will I ever do it? No. But you know, like a guilty pleasure of mine is reality TV. If there's drama somewhere else, cool, I'm interested. But I never am one to start it or involve myself in it."
Buntan is no stranger to barnburners in her six-win tenure under the ONE banner. However, pulling off the upset over the French-Algerian great at ONE 169 will be the young Filipino-American's greatest career victory yet.
Jackie Buntan reveals her motivations ahead of ONE 169
Jackie Buntan believes winning her first ONE world championship at ONE 169 will validate the immense effort she has poured into her career thus far.
The Boxing Works fighter told ONE:
"It would mean the world. Absolutely everything. You know, it's the reason why I do this. There's more to it, but that's obviously the end goal, is you want to work towards something that solidifies your greatness, that solidifies your name in the sport."
ONE 169 will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.