Jackie Buntan is on holiday in Hawaii. The Fil-Am strawweight is back in the title mix after winning her last two fights and appears to be taking what must be a well earned break.
She celebrated her 26th birthday in Oahu this week. Things are certainly looking brighter for Jackie then they were a year ago when she was coming off the first loss of her ONE Championship career.
Jackie was well beaten by Smilla Sundell who inflicted some serious looking facial injuries on her. Fortunately there was no serious damage done at ONE 156.
But just over a year later Jackie has turned her career around and could be in line for a shot at either the strawweight kickboxing or Muay Thai title. So her break in Hawaii could turn out to be the calm before the storm.
View this post on Instagram
Good workout
She certainly hasn’t been letting herself go despite being on holiday. Earlier this week Jackie posted a photo of herself at the top of the 196 metre Koko Head in Oahu.
That hike is as good as any kickboxing or Muay Thai workout. It is the former sport that Jackie seems particularly interested in despite having much more experience in the latter.
After her win over Diandra Martin at ONE Fight Night 10 Jackie announced that she wanted to challenge for the strawweight kickboxing title next. That belt is currently vacant so she didn’t have a particular opponent in mind.
View this post on Instagram
Kickboxing debut
But a few weeks after that Smilla Sundell made her kickboxing debut, outpointing Milana Bjelogrlic at ONE Friday Fights 18. In the aftermath Jackie announced that she wanted to rematch the Swedish teenager.
Afterwards Jackie proposed that the two rematch with the inaugural strawweight kickboxing title on the line. She clearly has her sights set on a ONE Championship title, something which has eluded her so far.
Having signed for ONE Championship with very little prior experience of professional fighting Jackie has really had to learn on the job. She has clearly taken to the task and, after enjoying a birthday break, will be looking to secure a title shot in 2023.
