DENICE “The Menace” Zamboanga will have to wait a bit longer for ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex to heal up from her injury before the meet, but her thirst for gold could finally be satiated.
Zamboanga gets a shot at the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title when she takes on dangerous submission artist Alyona Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 25 on October 5 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Stamp remains on the sidelines as she heals up from a torn meniscus that she suffered while training for her scheduled clash with Zamboanga.
For the Filipina, it’s an opportunity she can’t pass up.
Having been atop the atomweight rankings since now-retired former divisional queen Angela Lee ruled the division, Zamboanga couldn’t seem to get her shot at gold due to either unforeseen circumstances or disputable decisions.
She almost got the opportunity when she climbed the atomweight ladder once more to get a crack at Stamp, but the latter’s aforementioned injury pushed her World Title aspirations back yet again.
Proving that she’s ready to face anyone in front of her, Zamboanga still decided to fight. She instead faced and beat Noelle Grandjean to solidify her spot as the next woman up in the atomweight division.
Though she won’t be getting Stamp, at least not yet, she’ll get a chance at gold in this tussle with Rassohyna – the only person to beat Stamp under MMA rules.
The Ukrainian submitted Stamp seconds before their fight ended, making that just one of her 11 submission victories in 13 wins.
While Zamboanga won’t be facing Stamp, she will likewise make history as a win here would see her become the first ever Filipina to lay claim to an MMA World Title – interim or not.
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