Close friends will become fierce rivals as Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga challenges Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship at ONE 166: Qatar inside Lusail Sports Arena this March 1.
It’s a duel that has been a long time coming, with the two sharing a significant history together.
Training together at Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand, the two forged a strong friendship even if they were both on the hunt for the crown.
But all is fair in love and war, and with Stamp now sitting atop of the division, Zamboanga has no choice but to run straight to her competitor as she seeks glory in her ONE return.
Zamboanga is riding a two-fight win streak, including a unanimous decision victory over Julie Mezabarba at ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs Haggerty last April to keep her momentum going.
What better way to continue that streak than finally getting a chance to get a taste of gold.
“Feeling ko parang mas pinrepare talaga ako for this moment,” said Zamboanga, who has been scraping for a championship match since 2019.
“Feeling ko God’s will, na may purpose si Lord na dinelay niya yung world title shot ko. Itong time na ito, para sa akin na talaga ito.”
Stamp, though, is playing on a different plane, winning her last four matches, the latest of which where she claimed the vacant ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship over Ham “Hamzzang” Seo Hee in the main event of ONE Fight Night 14 back in September.
It’s the fourth World Title clash announced for the massive card in Qatar. Zamboanga joins compatriot Joshua “The Passion” Pacio in the card as the Lions Nation MMA standout takes on ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks.
Announced earlier is the ONE Middleweight MMA World Title bout between divisional king Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder and two-division MMA World Champ, Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin, and the ONE Featherweight MMA World Title unification bout between Tang Kai and Thanh Le.
Fight Game Asia 