"I'm excited" - Stamp Fairtex looking forward to good old fashion fist fight with 'bestie' Denice Zamboanga

For the sake of world title glory, Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga will be setting aside their friendship, as they will headline the loaded ONE 167 card on June 7 inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Stamp will be defending her ONE atomweight MMA world title for the first time since winning it last September 2023, and Zamboanga's challenger will be the first one that she would need to fend off.

Ahead of their championship showdown, the 26-year-old Thai superstar caught up with the South China Morning Post to discuss her impending match. In one of the junctures of the interview, Stamp was asked if she was excited to throw hands with the No. 2-ranked divisional contender, and she responded.

"Yes, of course. I'm excited [to stand and bang with her]."

Their good relationship as friends started at the Fairtex Training Center, where both trained together for almost a year before Zamboanga moved back to the Philippines to continue her training.

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Stamp thinks Denice Zamboanga made the right decision by leaving Fairtex to pursue world title aspirations

Pursuing her world title aspirations is one of the main reasons why 'The Menace' left the Fairtex Training Center in Thailand. It was because she couldn't fight for the belt, and it would be a conflict for them if she remained in the gym. This bold decision by Zamboanga was lauded by Stamp.

Furthermore, the first and only three-sport world champion in ONE Championship also praised Zamboanga's ground game, particularly her wrestling skills. However, Stamp is preparing for it and said that she first needs to fight her on the feet before she can execute her fight plan of taking the fight down the mat.

ONE 167 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America in U.S. primetime on June 7. The card will emanate from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.