DENICE “The Menace” Zamboanga is now the undisputed ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion as erstwhile divisional ruler Stamp Fairtex relinquished her title after suffering an injury setback while rehabbing her knee.
Zamboanga won the interim crown early this year when she stopped Alyonna Rassohyna via TKO in their clash, positioning herself as the first woman to face Stamp when the charismatic Thai returns from her torn meniscus injury.
But with Stamp sidelined for much longer after another injury, she agreed to drop her belt to Zamboanga—making the Filipina this division’s new queen.
“God’s timing is always perfect. I may not have envisioned becoming champion this way, but I trust his plan,” Zamboanga said.
“Stamp is an incredible athlete, and I’m praying for her healing and strength. I’ve looked up to her as both a competitor and a sister in this sport, and I know she’ll come back stronger,” she continued.
“As for me, I’m ready to carry this belt with honor, fight with purpose, and glorify him in every step. This title is more than just a belt—it’s a reminder that with faith, hard work, and the right people by your side, nothing is impossible. All glory to God.”
The pair was supposed to be one of the marquee bouts for ONE 173: Denver this August 3 inside Ball Arena in Colorado.
As a result of this fight being scrapped, ONE’s return to Denver is being moved to a later date of June 26, 2026.
“We are saddened to hear of the injury setback to Stamp and wish her nothing but the best in her road to recovery. After looking at multiple alternate headlining options that unfortunately did not come together, we have made the difficult decision to move our Denver event to June 26,” ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said.
“When bringing the world’s largest martial arts organization to the U.S., we strive to deliver the very best product to our passionate American fan base and put on the most entertaining and memorable show possible. The U.S. remains a high-priority market for ONE and our global business, and we remain committed to maintaining a strong presence in the region with monthly ONE Fight Night events in U.S. primetime and future on-ground events,” he added.
There’s still no word as to when Zamboanga will be back to defend her belt, but she assures fans that she’s ready to face whoever, whenever.
“To ONE Championship—I’m ready to defend this belt anytime and anywhere, whether it’s in the States, other parts of Asia, or right in my very own country, the Philippines. Let’s go!” said Zamboanga.