Denice Zamboanga aims to get a finish over Noelle Grandjean to prove that she's a "top title contender"

Denice Zamboanga hopes to make a statement with her performance under unfortunate circumstances. The No.2-ranked atomweight MMA contender had earned herself a huge world title shot and was looking to finally accomplish her dream of becoming a world champion.

Unfortunately, these plans were forced to go on the backburner following some news that broke leading up to ONE 167.

A knee injury in training two weeks ago forced Stamp Fairtex to pull out of her main event title defense against her former training partner. At the time that the champion's withdrawal was announced, it was also stated that Zamboanga would be remaining on the card against a new opponent.

On Stamp's end, the three-sport queen underwent a successful surgery on Monday, May 20. She is currently undergoing physical therapy.

The Filipino fighter is now set to take on Noelle Grandjean in a fight that she cannot afford to lose if she hopes to challenge for the title once the champion is back in fighting shape.

Denice Zamboanga told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview that she hopes to win in emphatic fashion to stake her flag at the top of the division:

"My team is planning for me to finish the fight and not win by decision, they want to prove that I am the top title contender."

Watch the full interview below:

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Denice Zamboanga has waited a long time for this

Denice Zamboanga has had to wait a long time to finally get her moment and opportunity to become a world champion.

Her fight with Stamp Fairtex was already pushed back from ONE 166: Qatar, not to mention her prior history with former champion Angela Lee.

Now, she will look to keep her momentum going by putting all of the hard work in training camp to good use against a new opponent.

Noelle Grandjean will look to take all of that momentum for herself but rest assured, Zamboanga is not going to give up everything that she has worked for without a fight.

ONE 167 will air live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7. Active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North America can catch the entire card live in U.S. primetime for free.