“She needs time” - Alyona Rassohyna confident atomweight MMA queen Stamp Fairtex set for a solid return after knee injury

Alyona Rassohyna is confident that Stamp Fairtex, the reigning ONE women's atomweight MMA world champion, will return stronger than ever after suffering a nasty knee injury.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Rassohyna said Stamp will look like the Thai megastar of old once she's fully healthy.

Rassohyna, though, wants Stamp to take her time to recover from the gruesome knee injury and never rush into things despite the excitement behind her return.

"Stamp will fully get back on her feet, she needs time. Once she recovers, she'll be back in the division and able to compete further," said Alyona Rassohyna.

Stamp was scheduled for two blockbuster world title fights in 2024, but decidedly pulled out of both ONE 167 and ONE 168 after tearing the meniscus in her left knee during training camp.

The former ONE atomweight kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion suffered the injury while preparing for her MMA world title defense against close friend and former training partner Denice Zamboanga for ONE 167 in June.

Her injury also forced Stamp out of her chance at two-division glory against Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE women's strawweight MMA world title at ONE 168: Denver in September.

Rassohyna, meanwhile, will face Zamboanga for the ONE interim women's atomweight MMA world title at ONE Fight Night 27 on Friday, US primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.

The number four-ranked women's atomweight contender could face Stamp in a world title unification bout if she gets past Zamboanga in Bangkok.

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Alyona Rassohyna says she deserves her spot at interim gold after pushing Stamp to the limit

Stamp Fairtex rarely looked in trouble during her run in ONE Championship, but the two fights she had against Alyona Rassohyna were arguably the toughest pair fo fights she's had in the Circle.

Rassohyna and Stamp split the two matches they had together, and it's this notion that the Ukrainian star holds on to as to why she earned her shot at the ONE interim women's atomweight MMA world title.

"I'm confident in my abilities, no matter what the result was with Stamp. I won [against] her. We had some great fights. And the girls haven't shown competitive fights like she and I have. So I deserve this right to fight for this belt."