ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga became the first Filipina to win a world title in mixed martial arts.
That championship feeling for the Philippines’ newest history-maker, and the recognition that came shortly after her triumph, still hasn’t sunk in.
READ: Denice Zamboanga wants unification title bout with Stamp in MoA
“Sobrang iba sa feeling kapag nakagawa ka ng history (para) sa bansa mo. Sobrang honor ‘yun. Parang buong bansa 'yung dinala mo sa sports ko na 'to. Sobrang blessed and grateful ako na nakuha natin 'yung ganung history,” Zamboanga said in a recent visit to the PVL.
“Hindi ko rin in-expect na after ng fight ko, after ko makuha 'yung championship, 'kala ko parang normal Denice lang, pero sobrang saya ko na they recognize me.”
Drawing inspiration from her volleyball idols in the Creamline Cool Smashers, Zamboanga sees so much room for Filipina athletes to dominate in their own fields and disciplines.
At 28, her dream wasn’t just to be a Filipina MMA world title holder, let alone be the first to make it happen.
Zamboanga hopes she won’t be the last of her kind to become a trailblazer in one’s game.
“Sobrang dami kasing aspiring (Filipina athletes). Sobrang daming Filipino, Filipina na talaga kayang-kayang maging (successful sa field nila),” Zamboanga said.
“Hindi man siya sa palakasan, sobrang daming nating opportunity or parang sobrang daming nating kayang-kayang ilagay diyan sa kahit na anong sports kasi sobrang gagaling talaga ng mga Pinoy.”
With her recent World Title win comes bigger pursuits such as a unification World Title bout against Stamp Fairtex in the near future.
As Zamboanga takes even bigger steps in her already-decorated career, her greater goal is to show her countrymen how every and any dream is valid when one puts his or her heart to the craft.
“(Sana) makakauha pa tayo ng maraming belt at sana ma-inspire ko rin, hindi lang babae kahit mga lalaki, hindi lang sa sports ko, hindi lang sa MMA.
“Gusto kong ma-inspire 'yung mga Filipino athletes na talagang mag-pursue sila sa dream nila.”
Zamboanga added: “Patuloy lang talaga 'yung dedication mo sa ginagawa mo. Talagang 'yung hard work lang at’ wag sumuko kung talagang gusto mong kunin 'yung goal mo or 'yung dream mo.”
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