Stamp Fairtex Set to Take On Friend Denice Zamboanga in First MMA World Title Defense at ONE 166: Qatar

Stamp Fairtex is set to put her ONE Women’s Atom weight MMA World Title on the line for the first time against a familiar face.

On Friday, March 1, the Thai superstar will meet former training partner Denice Zamboanga at ONE 166: Qatar, inside the Lusail Sports Arena.

A closer look at Stamp Fairtex vs. Denice Zamboanga

ONE Championship had announced that at least three World Title bouts would go down at the promotion’s first event in the Middle East, but the addition of Stamp’s match, in fact, brings the total to five. 

Having previously held the women’s atomweight Muay Thai and kickboxing straps simultaneously, the Fairtex product made history at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023 by becoming the first three-sport ONE World Champion when she claimed the division’s MMA throne against Ham Seo Hee. 

The pair were originally set to battle for the interim strap, but when longtime titleholder Angela Lee announced her retirement, they clashed for the vacated World Title instead.

Read More: “It Doesn’t Really Go to My Head” – Despite Rising to Superstardom, Stamp Fairtex Still Strives to Improve Her Craft

Stamp scored a TKO victory over Ham in the third round, becoming just the second fighter to hold the atomweight crown since its inception. 

The 26-year-old will get a chance to cement her position atop the stacked weight bracket on March 1, but she will be facing off against someone who, arguably, knows her better than anyone she has ever faced before. 

Who will come out on top on March 1?

Stamp and Zamboanga came up in the ONE ranks together while training at the Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand, and they both impressed early in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

“The Menace” rattled off three straight victories in as many fights, including a hard-earned win over former World Title challenger Mei Yamaguchi. 

However, she then dropped back-to-back losses to Ham, which stifled her momentum somewhat. 

Zamboanga has since bounced back with two wins in a row, and this has helped her rise to the #2-ranked contender position in the women’s atomweight MMA division.

Read More: “I’m Better Technically and Stronger Too” – Felipe Lobo Breaks Down His Advantages Over Saemapetch Fairtex Ahead of ONE Fight Night 17

While she has developed a friendship with Stamp away from competition, the Filipina superstar will need to put that on the shelf if she wants to claim ultimate glory in Qatar on March 1.

Watch out for more bout announcements as the date draws closer to ONE 166: Qatar.