"The cherry on top" - Jackie Buntan relishes opportunity to compete for inaugural kickboxing gold against Anissa Meksen

Muay Thai star Jackie Buntan is eager to test her kickboxing skills against the legendary Anissa Meksen when they duel over the inaugural ONE women's strawweight kickboxing world championship at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Speaking with Violent Money TV, Buntan bared her excitement in fighting 'C18' for 26 pounds of ONE gold:

"This is what I had my eyes on, was to go for kickboxing, and to have it be for the kickboxing belt, the inaugural belt, is just the cherry on top."

Watch the entire interview below:

Buntan's world title tilt with Meksen at ONE 169 will mark her first kickboxing fight under the ONE banner. This puts her at a slight disadvantage against the French-Algerian icon due to Meksen's years of experience in the sport, which have seen her win multiple world championships.

However, Buntan's success in ONE's striking ranks lies in her ability to string together boxing-centric combinations, which, alongside her high-pressure style, could force Meksen into tough situations.

---

Jackie Buntan adopts underdog mentality ahead of ONE 169

Jackie Buntan is fully aware that many fans expect Anissa Meksen to leave ONE 169 with the inaugural ONE women's strawweight kickboxing crown. In that same vein, it is her never-say-die attitude that could lead to the upset.

In an interview with the world's largest martial arts promotion, the Filipino-American shared:

"Any fight I take, I don't take it easy. Especially this fight. Statistically, I'm the underdog compared to her. She has so many strengths. She's been in the game for so long and I backed myself 110%."

ONE 169 will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.