A strawweight kickboxing title fight has been confirmed for ONE Fight Night 23. Jackie Buntan and Anissa Meksen will go head to head for the belt which is being introduced for the first time at Lumpinee Stadium on July 6th.
Buntan has previously challenged for the strawweight Muay Thai title. She came up short against Smilla Sundell and had been booked to face the Swedish champion again in a rematch but that fight fell through.
Meksen was involved in a protracted contract dispute last year which meant she didn’t get to fight until December. The French fighter returned to the ring to challenge Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom for the atomweight kickboxing belt but was beaten for the first time since 2019.
This will be Meksen’s first time competing at strawweight which is set at 125lbs with fighters required to pass tests to prove they haven’t dehydrated themselves to make weight. By contrast Buntan has been fighting in the division for her entire professional career.
AND NEW 🏆 Phetjeeja defeats Anissa Meksen by unanimous decision to claim the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title!
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🌍 Global… pic.twitter.com/t0hQ9ctg50— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 22, 2023
Heavyweight fight
As well as the strawweight Muay Thai headliner this card will also feature a heavyweight MMA fight. Belarusian wrestler Kirill Grishenko (5-2) has been matched with hard hitting South Korean Ji Won Kang (7-2).
Kang is best known for his first round knockout win over Amil Aliakbari and all his victories have come inside the distance. Grishenko hasn’t fought since 2022 but is coming off two losses.
“Mighty Warrior” 💪 Kang Ji Won pounds his way to a second-round TKO!
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🌍 Live TV broadcast in 190+ countries… pic.twitter.com/5OlfpHmq3q— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 13, 2024
Much bigger
ONE Fight Night 21 is set for Lumpinee Stadium on May 4th. Smilla Sundell will be defending her strawweight Muay Thai title against Natalya Dyachkova in the main event.
After that ONE 167 is booked for the much bigger Impact Arena in Bangkok. That event is headlined by Stamp Fairtex who is putting her atomweight MMA title on the line against Denice Zamboanga.
ONE Fight Night 23, Bangkok, July 6th
Kickboxing: Jackie Buntan vs. Anissa Meksen (For strawweight title)
MMA: Kirill Grishenko vs. Ji Won Kang (Heavyweight)
