“She's got the skills and the strength “ - Lito Adiwang confident Denice Zamboanga can stifle Alyona Rassohyna’s dreaded grappling

Strawweight MMA standout Lito Adiwang believes Denice Zamboanga will more than hold her own against grappling sensation Alyona Rassohyna.

More than three years removed from her last appearances inside the Circle, Rassohyna returns to martial arts' biggest global stage for a showdown with Zamboanga at ONE Fight Night 27 on Prime Video.

The winner will emerge as the new interim ONE atomweight MMA world champion, setting the stage for a future fight with the division's current undisputed queen, Stamp Fairtex.

Offering his take on Friday night's highly anticipated title clash inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Adiwang believes that 'The Menace' will succeed at fending off the Ukrainian's smothering ground game.

"When it comes to the ground game, I think [Zamboanga] can stop Alyona's takedowns," Adiwang told ABS-CBN news. "She's got the skills and the strength to do so."

It will be a first-ever meeting between Zamboanga and Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 27, but both fighters have the same goal come fight night — strap 26 pounds of gold around their waist and book a date against Stamp.

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Denice Zamboanga and Alyona Rassohyna vie for a massive opportunity against Stamp Fairtex

While Denice Zamboanga has not yet had the chance to share the Circle with Stamp, 'The Menace' has earned wins over some of the biggest names in the atomweight MMA division, including Jihin Radzuan, Mei Yamaguchi, Lin Heqin, and Julie Mezabarba.

With one more big win inside the Mecca of Muay Thai, she'll get the chance to test herself against one of the best female fighters of all time.

On the other hand, Alyona Rassohyna has already shared the spotlight with Stamp on two different occasions, competing against the Thai fan favorite in back-to-back bouts in 2021.

Rassohyna came out on top the first time around, submitting Stamp in the third round of the ONE: Unbreakable III showdown. However, Stamp evened the series seven months later with a split decision win over Rassohyna at ONE's inaugural all-women's event, Empower.

Would you rather see Zamboanga get her first shot at Stamp, or do you want to see Rassohyna book a long-awaited trilogy fight with the three-sport superstar?

Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 27 live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, January 10 in U.S. primetime.