For Jackie Buntan, 2025 is more than just a personal milestone — it’s a defining year for Filipinas in ONE Championship.
After 13 years without a Filipina world champion in the promotion, there are now two — and both reached the pinnacle within a six-month stretch. Buntan captured the ONE strawweight kickboxing title, while Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga recently became the undisputed ONE women’s atomweight MMA champion.
Buntan fondly recalled sharing a card with Zamboanga back in December 2022 during ONE Fight Night 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena, her first bout in the Philippines.
“When me and Denice both fought on the same card in Manila, I remember walking to the warm-up room post-fight, and we were both icing our faces — we had a laugh about that,” she said.
At the time, both women were regrouping from setbacks. Buntan had just lost to Smilla Sundell for the inaugural ONE strawweight Muay Thai title, while Zamboanga was on a two-fight skid against Ham Seo Hee. But that night, they both bounced back: Buntan defeated Amber Kitchen, while Zamboanga edged Lin Heqin in the event opener.
Fast forward more than two years, and the two have risen to the top — each riding a three-fight winning streak since that fateful night in Manila.
“It’s a deeply significant and proud moment to be one of the two Filipinas in ONE Championship to reach World Champion status,” Buntan said.
“To have two Filipinas be at the top of their divisions at the same time just shows the growth of women in martial arts during this day and age.”
From contenders to champions, Buntan and Zamboanga are now trailblazers, proving that Filipinas belong on the global stage — and at the very top.
The post Buntan relishes banner year for Filipinas in ONE Championship first appeared on Fastbreak.
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