After a strong showing at ONE 167, it's only a matter of time before Denice Zamboanga challenges good friend Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Atomweight world championship.
ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion
Stamp Fairtex expected a showcase of skills from her good friend in no. 2-ranked contender
Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga, and the Filipina did just that.
Sidelined after tearing her meniscus in preparation for a showdown with Zamboanga, Stamp was delighted to see her former training partner still put on a show at ONE 167.
Denice dismantled Noelle “Lil Monkey” Grandjean at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II this past weekend at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
It was an impressive performance for the Filipina as she showcased improved striking, looking levels above Grandjean who, in turn, was dominated from start to finish.
The only thing missing was a finish from Zamboanga, but with that kind of performance, she didn’t need one to get Stamp’s attention.
“Congratulations to you my dearest friend,” Stamp said.
“At first I thought this fight would end with a knockout because Denice has been training for quite a longtime.”
The charismatic Thai superstar also tipped her hat to Grandjean – another former training partner of hers from Fairtex Training Center – for stepping up and hanging tough against the determined Zamboanga.
“Noelle only had two weeks to prepare and had just fought a few weeks before the fight. I admire [her] very much, and in this fight, Noelle did well,” Stamp said.
That said, Zamboanga’s performance only stated the obvious – she really deserves to get her world title shot soon. And Stamp vows to recover, reach optimal shape, and defend her championship the moment she gets cleared.
“Denice, I will fight you soon,” Stamp said. “I’ll try to recover quickly until my body returns to 100 percent and defend my belt in my next fight with you.”