TWO Filipina strikers took the spotlight and shone ever so brightly for Team Philippines in ONE Championship’s back-to-back shows over the past weekend.
Fil-American striking star Jackie Buntan became the first ever fighter of Pinoy descent to snag gold in ONE’s striking arts after winning the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title over Anissa Meksen at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand last Saturday.
Coming in as an underdog against the fighter many consider as one the greatest of women’s kickboxers of all time, Buntan courageously took the fight to the French-Algerian striker, forcing a fight in the pocket while continuously landing head and body hooks to frustrate Meksen.
After five rounds, all three judges gave Buntan the nod – as she finally can call herself a World Champion after missing out on the ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title two years ago versus Smilla Sundell.
The night before at ONE Friday Fights 86, Islay Erika Bomogao truly lived up to the hype.
The 24-year-old dazzled in her highly anticipated debut in the ONE stage after dominating Fuu in a 100-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout in the same legendary venue.
Bomogao promised to put out a beautiful brand of Muay Thai and that she did, as she connected on a variety of shots, including a beautiful side head kick which certainly hyped the Lumpinee crowd.
By winning her debut, Bomogao draws ever closer to that US$100,000 contract to join Buntan in the ONE Championship main roster.
Alvarez, Biagtan
take rebound wins
Also in ONE Friday Fights, Team Lakay’s Carlos Alvarez and T-Rex MMA’s Fritz Biagtan took home impressive victories.
Alvarez survived a late first round onslaught and took a second-round TKO win over Mirza Aliev, raining down punches on the Russian until Herb Dean stopped the fight in the 4:22 mark of the second round.
The win pushed Alvarez to 4-1 in the Lumpinee circuit, putting him back on the hunt for that coveted contract.
