“That bar is going to get higher” - Jackie Buntan says the future generation of fighters will always elevate martial arts

Newly minted ONE women's strawweight world champion Jackie Buntan believes that martial arts' future is in good hands with new-generation fighters getting into it early while also elevating the craft.

She shared this in an interview with ONE Championship, drawing from her own experience growing up as a martial artist and what she has observed with what is happening these days.

Buntan said:

"When I was younger, people older than me told me, 'I wish I started at your age.' Like I said, I'm 27. I see little girls training at like 8 years old, 7 years old, and they're like complete beasts and it seems like every year that goes by these girls, even little boys, train younger and younger, and I think that really shapes and molds the future into where the bar can be. Every time that bar is going to get higher and higher and higher."

While bullish of what lies ahead for martial arts, Jackie Buntan realized her long-standing goal of becoming a world champion when she defeated veteran Anissa Meksen for the inaugural ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world title at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Nov. 8 in Thailand.

The Boxing Works standout was technical throughout the course of the five-round joust at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, coming out with a well-earned decision victory.

The full replay of ONE 169 is available on demand for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Jackie Buntan proud to have achieved long-sought dream of becoming a world champion

It took a while for Jackie Buntan to realize her goal of becoming a world champion, which she said made it all the more special.

The 27-year-old Filipino-American fighter added her name to the roster of ONE world champions as she claimed the inaugural women's strawweight kickboxing world title at ONE 169 on Nov. 8 in Thailand. She defeated seasoned Algerian-French kickboxer Anissa Meksen by unanimous decision.

Buntan reflected on her journey to becoming a world champion in a post-fight interview with Mitch Chilson inside the ring, saying:

"I'm lost for words. I've been training since I was 11. I'm 27 now and I've been dreaming about this and hoping about it. It just feels surreal that it's actually in my arms right now."

Jackie Buntan's victory at ONE 169 was her second stab at a world title. In April 2022, she first bid for the inaugural ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title but lost to Smilla Sundell of Sweden by decision.