Stamp Fairtex Opens Up on Denice Zamboanga – “This Friendship Is Behind, So We Are Sure to Fight”

Stamp Fairtex will be meeting a friend in her next ONE Championship outing, but she assures everyone that their match will not be “friendly” by any means.

On Friday, June 7, the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion will defend her belt for the first time against her former teammate, Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga, in the main event of ONE 167 inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

The pair developed a friendship while training together at the Fairtex Training Center, and they have kept in touch even after Zamboanga left the famed stable.

Stamp Fairtex states that nothing will stop her from her victory

Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Stamp admitted that their meeting was an eventuality, given they compete in the division, but she is focused on the win nonetheless.

“I knew we’d always have to fight because we are in the same weight. And I know she wants to be the champion, but I have to defend [my belt],” she said.

“Yes, we are friends. But this friendship is behind, so we are sure to fight.” 

Zamboanga quickly rose through the atomweight MMA ranks of the world’s largest martial arts organization, scoring three wins in as many fights upon her arrival in 2019. Unfortunately, she would suffer back-to-back losses to South Korean veteran Ham Seo Hee after that, which derailed her path to a World Title shot.

However, the Filipino star has since rebounded with two straight wins, and she now sits comfortably as the #2-ranked contender in the stacked division.

Stamp, on the other hand, was relentless in her pursuit of MMA gold, having previously held the atomweight kickboxing and Muay Thai belts simultaneously.

After falling short in her challenge to Angela Lee’s reign at ONE X in March 2022, the Thai superstar won her next two outings in the all-encompassing sport to get a shot at the interim belt opposite Ham at ONE Fight Night 14 in September last year.

Stamp would be capitalizing on Muay Thai

In a twist of fate, longtime queen Lee would announce her retirement right before their battle took place, leaving the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title vacant and giving Stamp and Ham the chance to compete for it.

The 26-year-old sensation defeated Ham to claim the throne, and now she must cement her position by taking on the next contender, who happens to be “The Menace.”

When it comes to how she will approach the World Title tilt, Stamp insists she is ready to play to her strengths and will be prepared for Zamboanga to do the same.

“For sure, I’d use a lot of Muay Thai in this fight. In my opinion, I think she will want to take me down. So I’d use my Muay Thai. If I can get the knockout, that will be good for me,” she said.