Jackie Buntan carries more than championship gold into her upcoming rematch. She’s bringing the memory of two first-round knockdowns and a plan to ensure they never happen again.
The ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion defends her title against Stella Hemetsberger at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Their September clash at ONE Fight Night 35 ended with Hemetsberger capturing the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title. The Austrian dropped Buntan twice in the opening round with short counters that shifted the entire fight. Hemetsberger edged the Filipino-American by unanimous decision despite taking heavy punishment in the middle rounds.
The stakes flip now. Buntan holds the kickboxing belt she captured by outclassing Anissa Meksen across five rounds at ONE 169 last November. The 28-year-old California native carries a 27-7 record into this defense. Also, training under Bryan Popejoy and retired ONE Championship legend Janet Todd, she’s compiled victories over elite strikers.
Hemetsberger arrived through the ONE Friday Fights series and turned that opportunity into coronation. Her 9-1 professional record includes that September victory over Buntan. A second win would elevate her into rare territory. Only two women have captured world titles in multiple disciplines under the ONE Championship banner.
“Coming into the fight as the reigning Kickboxing World Champion, it’s one thing to win a World Championship, but it means a lot more to be able to defend it and stay on top,” she said. “And every time I step into the ring, collecting belts doesn’t matter to me. It’s being great and striving for that and having a better performance each time.”
Jackie Buntan sees patience as the key difference
Buntan learned lessons about herself that night. The knockdowns proved she could absorb punishment and keep fighting. Her chin held up. Her heart never wavered. She picked herself up twice and battled through five rounds, showing the grit that defines her as a fighter.
That understanding reshaped her preparation. Now, the 28-year-old knows what mattered most in a five-round war now. Forward pressure gave Hemetsberger problems. But impatience cost crucial moments. Those rushed exchanges looking for big shots instead of setting them up properly allowed the Austrian to land counters.
“That specific loss, especially how it happened, getting knocked down twice in the first round but staying in it and picking it up in rounds two through five, I think that’s the definition of me as a fighter, as an athlete,” she said. “There’s no quit in me. There’s no quit in my heart. I’m in it until that bell rings. If I were to do something different from that fight, I would be more patient.”
Kickboxing rules fundamentally change the rhythm and spacing. Buntan sees Hemetsberger’s game clearly now. The kicks remain her biggest weapon. But the Boxing Works product spotted holes in both her punching and kicking that create opportunities. Movement gives Buntan advantages. She can cut off the ring better, whether moving backwards, circling, or pressing forward.
“I do see myself breaking her down from round one, having her question her ability, her game plan, her strategy, and just controlling it from there,” she said. “I know how to beat her. I wasn’t able to execute it quite well the last time. It’s not based off emotions. It’s just knowing I’m better than that, and it’s time to show it. Winning this fight means everything for my legacy.”