"Celebrate my birthday with a world title" - Denice Zamboanga hopes to turn a year older as first Filipina MMA world champion

The current number two-ranked women's atomweight MMA contender Denice Zamboanga hopes to cash into her world championship dreams as she prepares for her ONE interim women's atomweight MMA world title match against Alyona Rassohyna in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 27.

'The Menace' and the Ukranian collide in front of the packed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Jan. 10, to get an outright unification fight with reigning divisional queen Stamp Fairtex in the foreseeable future.

Before her first championship match, the 27-year-old shared her dream of celebrating her special day with an additional 26-pond golden belt on her trophy case, as she revealed in her most recent interview with ABS-CBN. She said:

"I'm also gonna be celebrating my birthday this January as well, so I truly want to celebrate my birthday with a world title."

The Filipina MMA star is riding a three-fight win streak, having defeated Lin Heqin, Julie Mezabarba, and most recently, Noelle Grandjean in June 2024 to protect her position in the top five rankings and earn the interim world championship opportunity.

---

Denice Zamboanga is positive of her chances against Alyona Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 27

In the same interview with ABS-CBN, the T-Rex Martial Arts representative is in high spirits as she prepares for her first world title bout. The 27-year-old is certain that she can beat her Ukrainian opponent regardless of the method she chooses between striking and grappling.

Zamboanga wants to add the 34-year-old to her victim list. She said:

"I'm confident that I'll get to finish her wherever it goes, whether it be on the feet or on the ground."

North American viewers with an active Prime Video subscription can watch all the action at ONE Fight Night 27 on Jan. 10, which will take place inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.