There is a lot of history behind the looming title unification bout between the Philippines’ Denice Zamboanga and Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex, with both fighters set to battle for the distinction of undisputed champion at ONE 173 in Denver, Colorado this August.
Apart from the storied journey of Zamboanga to become the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA Champion, there is also the added context of her and Stamp’s years-long friendship.
[RELATED: First of her name: Denice Zamboanga and her journey to become ONE’s first Filipina MMA champion]
Previously fighting out of the same gym in Thailand, Zamboanga and Stamp have forged a bond unlike any other, with the two turning from teammates to practically sisters.
Even now that Zamboanga has moved stables to her brother’s TREX MMA here in Manila, both Denice and Stamp continue checking in on one another and celebrate each other's wins.
But now, their paths are forced to cross in the pursuit of true greatness, as Zamboanga recently became the interim title holder for Stamp’s atomweight belt.
They were previously set to face off last year, but it was called off due to an injury for the Thai world champion.
Now both fit again and at the top of their respective games, Zamboanga said that she doesn’t mind forcing their friendship to the sidelines when they meet at Ball Arena.
Besides, they aren’t newbies to the fighting game, as they’ve had to do the same whenever they faced each other in sparring at the Fairtex gym. Only this time, gold belts are on the line.
“Siguro, isipin na lang namin na parang sparring yun. Like, [what] we're doing before sa Fairtex, sa gym namin before,” Zamboanga told One Sports for Profiles.
“Kapag nags-spar kami, lagi namin, sine-set aside yung, parang, friendship namin. Basta pumasok kami dun sa cage, basta nag-start na yung sparring namin, talagang, nag-iiba na yung mood namin. Nag-iiba na yung character namin dalawa.”
For Zamboanga, she said that she needed to lock in every time she faced Stamp, especially since her friend’s skills are anything but subpar.
“Nags-switch na siya to war mode na. Especially [when I fight] with her. Nung, every time nags-spar kami, talagang nags-switch siya… Wala akong choice, kundi mag-switch din, syempre, di ba?” said Zamboanga.
“So, kapag nag-spar kami, serious mode na siya, serious mode na rin ako. [Pero] after rounds namin yun, okay, good na ulit kami, kakain ulit kami ng buffet, together. Feeling ko, same din kapag sa laban,” she added.
('War mode' will be engaged when Denice Zamboanga fights good friend Stamp to be Undisputed ONE world champion)
Besides, Zamboanga and Stamp already have much to celebrate with their careers in ONE Championship.
From being rag-tag teammates in Thailand, to being the top-2 fighters in their division, there are a lot of achievements to go around between the both of them. Now that they’ve reached the pinnacle of the sport together, Zamboanga is nothing but happy.
“Sobrang unexpected. Sa akin, nung nag-train kami before, sa Fairtex, ano lang, parang di namin inisip, na maglalaban ba kami nito in the future. Parang, na-enjoy lang namin yung training namin,” recalled Zamboanga.
“Masaya ko, masaya ko na parang, kami magkasama before, sa, nagtulungan kami when it comes sa training, bigayan kami, yung mga techniques… ngayon, kami yung nasa top sa division namin.”
Despite everything, expect Zamboanga to fight with a chip on her shoulder.
Not because of Stamp, no, but rather, she believes that there still is a lot left to prove for her, especially as she wants to fully own the title of being the Philippines’ first female MMA champion in ONE Championship.
Technically already holding that title with her interim belt, there remains a lot of chatter about her status as champion. When the bell ring goes off on August 1, Zamboanga will be out for blood in order to leave no doubt.
“Mayroon din akong nababasang comments about doon sa interim [status]… Sa akin, may feeling na medyo nahihiya ako, parang, di ako sobrang ganun ka-proud na sabihin na world champion ako,” admitted Zamboanga.
“Kasi nga, andon pa yung gutom ko, na kunin pa talaga yung belt kay Stamp, [na] mag-justify talaga na champion [ako].”