A LOT of athletes could learn a thing or two from No. 2-ranked atomweight MMA contender Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga.
Zamboanga could’ve sat back and waited for her shot at ONE Atomweight MMA world champion Stamp Fairtex after the Thai recovered from her recent injury and no one would’ve given her grief for it.
After all, Zamboanga has seen two world title shots slip away due to things beyond her control. And last time she risked her top-contender status she ended up on the wrong end of a decision against Ham Seo Hee.
READ Denice Zamboanga proves worthy of ONE title shot once more
So Zamboanga raised eyebrows when she decided to compete at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II last Saturday, 8 June, against short-notice Stamp replacement Noelle Grandjean because the Filipina once again risked her top spot in a fight that could’ve cost her more than what she’d gain.
But by showing up, Zamboanga earned more than another win on her resume – she gained an unparalleled amount of respect from the MMA world.
It was tough for Zamboanga to transition from preparing for a striker like Stamp to a judoka like Grandjean, but it was even tougher to stay motivated. After all, she was expecting to compete in a five-rounder with the chance at becoming the first-ever Filipina MMA world champion.
With the way Zamboanga came in – from her demeanor to her physique and fitness to the way she followed and executed her game plan to a tee – it said a lot about her as a fighter and her chances of one day making history.
Champions aren’t only the best when the lights are the brightest. In the case of Zamboanga, she didn’t need a belt dangling in front of her to stay motivated; all she needed was a date and an opponent.
When Zamboanga said she was working double-time on improving her striking against Stamp, she stayed the course. It showed against Grandjean, as her boxing looked sharp and quick, while her footwork and head movement looked the best it’s ever been.
Her conditioning appeared ready to carry her for the full five rounds after 15 minutes of action – something that her coaches - her brother in Drex and fiance Fritz Biagtan - over at T-Rex MMA can be proud of.
And her grappling? The only time the multi-time judo national champion got Zamboanga on the canvas, the Filipina reversed and took her back in seconds.
Zamboanga looked so confident with her grappling that the judoka in Grandjean didn’t even attempt to bring the fight to the ground after that, risking her own victory by striking with Zamboanga instead. Based on the bruises on Grandjean’s face, that didn’t turn out well for her either.
Composure and maturity
But perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Zamboanga in her fight was her composure and maturity. Without any world title to fight for, Zamboanga could’ve taken needless risks, maybe shoot for the US$50,000 bonus by carelessly hunting for a finish.
The 26-year-old, however, is mature beyond her years. She knew that giving in to carelessness, even against an unranked fighter like Grandjean, could lead to her downfall.
By respecting her opponent’s capabilities and following her own game plan, she not only strengthened her case as the next challenger to Stamp, she put her ever-improving striking to the test. While she didn’t fight the former Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion as planned, it wasn’t like Zamboanga was getting challenged on the feet either.
The fight proved a lot of things about Zamboanga – her courage to take risky fights, her ability to prepare for a world title bout, her ever-improving MMA game.
Will those improvements be enough for Zamboanga to beat Stamp and become the first-ever Filipina MMA world champion? Only time will tell. One thing’s for sure, Zamboanga won’t come in lacking.
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