Former ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex said her decision to relinquish the belt to now-reigning divisional queen Denice "The Menace" Zamboanga was a no-brainer.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post, the Thai fighter said the decision was made long before ONE approached her about it.
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"I knew I had to give the belt to Denice before they announced it and before Chatri [Sityodtong, ONE CEO] talked to me," she said. "Because everyone wants a belt. If everything was 100 percent, I would fight her."
The 27-year-old also said she doesn't want to be unfair to her good friend in Zamboanga who's been toiling hard for years to get a shot at divisional supremacy.
And by giving up the belt, she's also doing her division right as the weight class keeps moving with Zamboanga able to defend the biggest prize in atomweight.
"If I keep the belt, she will always have to wait for me," Stamp said.
"She's the interim and I'm the champion, so she would not have the chance to fight the other people. I think it's fair to let her be out there and fight the other opponents.
"It's sad to give it to her, but it's good to give it to my friend so she can fight with everyone. ONE asked me if I wanted to step down and give the belt to Denice, so I agreed to that -- because I haven't fought for almost two years."
When asked who she feels is next in line for Zamboanga, Stamp said her friend has plenty of options, but she believes a Ham Seo Hee trilogy should be her first World Title defense.
"I think everyone is good for her -- Ayaka Miura, Ham Seo Hee," she said.
"She lost to Ham twice, but I think Ham is No. 1 for a rematch with her, and then Ayaka, and maybe Xiong Jingnan, because she came to atomweight."
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