It didn’t take too long for Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga to respond to Ham “Hamzzang” Seo Hee’s feisty remarks regarding her opportunity to vie for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title.
The South Korean star expressed her frustration on Instagram, questioning why her Filipina rival was given a shot at the belt in light of divisional queen Stamp Fairtex’s absence due to a torn meniscus.
Zamboanga, currently rated #2 in the division, was initially scheduled to face #4-ranked Alyona Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on October 5. However, a hamstring injury forced her to pull out.
Ham, who occupies the #1 spot in the rankings, felt she should have been considered for a crack at 26 pounds of gold, citing her past victories over both Zamboanga and Rassohyna.
In her rebuttal, “The Menace” underlined her hard-fought journey to the bracket’s upper echelon.
“I’ve fought tooth and nail to be where I am today. No one can take that away from me. I deserve this opportunity just as much as anyone else,” she said.
“It’s my time. I’ve battled through injuries and losses to earn my place here. I won’t let anyone diminish the effort I’ve put in.”
Zamboanga’s ascent has certainly been challenging. Her breakthrough moment came with an upset victory over Mei Yamaguchi in February 2020, which solidified her status as a top contender.
However, a sequence of detours has complicated her path to finally competing for the ultimate prize in her weight class.
Despite this, the T-Rex MMA representative never lost hope and clawed her way back up the ladder.
Earlier this year, she was set to challenge Stamp for the lineal championship, only for the match to be postponed and ultimately canceled due to Stamp’s dilemma.
Now recovering from her own injury, Zamboanga still feels she should be next in line.
In fact, she believes it’s time for others like her to have their share of the spotlight, especially after Ham’s recent loss to Stamp in September 2023.
“This division is full of talent, and I think it’s important to give opportunities to everyone. I’ve earned my spot. That’s why I’m in this position,” she stated.
With Stamp still out of the picture, the 27-year-old is determined to hold her ground among the contenders.
“I’m ready to prove myself again. I won’t let this chance slip through my fingers,” Zamboanga declared.
