![Denice Zamboanga battling Noelle Grandjean in June 2024. [Photo via: ONE Championship]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/04/fbd1e-17435074627614-1920.jpg)
![Denice Zamboanga battling Noelle Grandjean in June 2024. [Photo via: ONE Championship]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.6666666666667'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
ONE interim women's atomweight MMA world champion Denice Zamboanga's striking is among the best within the division. However, she proved that her ground game is not one to scoff at after facing renowned judoka Noelle Grandjean in June 2024.
When it was announced that Grandjean would be stepping in on short notice for the injured ONE women's atomweight MMA world champion Stamp Fairtex, many wondered whether the Filipina could withstand the multi-disciplined athlete's grappling.
Midway through the first round, Zamboanga turned Grandjean's headlock takedown into a back take. She kept control of the action on the ground and even attempted a rear-naked choke in the dying seconds. Grandjean surprisingly chose to keep the fight standing until the final bell rang, which worked perfectly in Zamboanga's favor. 'The Menace' won via unanimous decision.
Trending
Rewatch their high-octane three-round battle below, which ONE shared on YouTube:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Despite missing out on challenging her good friend for 26 pounds of women's atomweight MMA gold, this outing allowed Zamboanga to fight for the interim crown this past January.
For the first time since August 2020, Zamboanga logged a finish by stopping Alyona Rassohyna in round two with a ground-and-pound barrage.
Denice Zamboanga is all business ahead of ONE 173 showdown with Stamp
The undisputed ONE women's atomweight MMA world championship will be up for grabs between Denice Zamboanga and Stamp in a unification bout at ONE 173: Denver on Aug. 1, and the former is prepared to put aside their friendship for the crown.
In an exclusive interview with Tempo, the T-Rex MMA Training Center affiliate talked about what lies ahead of her inside the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado:
"Our journey from training partners to competitors adds a profound depth to this upcoming fight. Outside the circle, Stamp is a cherished friend, but come fight night, I'm prepared to showcase the evolution of 'The Menace'."
