“We’ve brought the international level” - Denice Zamboanga using the tricks she learned in Thailand in new gym in the Philippines

After cutting her teeth at the Fairtex Training Center and Marrok Force in Thailand, second-ranked atomweight MMA contender Denice Zamboanga is happy to call T-Rex MMA in her native Philippines home.

'The Menace' has worked her way through the ranks of the atomweight division, besting some of the best women in the world including Jihin Radzuan, Mei Yamaguchi, Lin Heqin, and Julie Mezabarba. Those victories earned her an opportunity to challenge friend and former training partner Stamp Fairtex for the atomweight MMA world championship.

Sadly, Stamp was forced to withdraw due to a meniscus injury. Now, Zamboanga will shift her attention toward Thai-French standout Noelle Grandjean who makes who steps in on short notice.

Before gunning for her third-straight victory inside the Circle, Zamboanga sat down with the promotion to discuss her preparation and the culture she's helping to establish at T-Rex MMA in Quezon City. She said:

“Now that we’re here in the Philippines, I feel like we’ve brought the international level of training. What we picked up from there, the routine and the attitude that we’ve developed there, we’re still keeping it here in T-Rex MMA.”

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Noelle Grandjean finds herself with a big opportunity against Denice Zamboanga at ONE 167

Meeting Denice Zamboanga at ONE 167 will be Noelle Grandjean, looking to climb back into the win column following a lopsided loss to undefeated sensation Chihiro Sawada at ONE Fight Night 22 a month ago.

Overall, 'Lil Monkey' is 5-2, but she's struggled to find consistency since making her promotional debut in October 2022. Since earning a first-round KO against Lea Bivins at ONE on Prime Video 3, Grandjean has alternated wins and losses. If she manages to score a win over Zamboanga, that trend will continue, but it will also thrust her into the division's loaded top five.

Will Grandjean's toughness be enough to score an upset against one of the most well-rounded when on the ONE Championship roster?

ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE 167 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, June 7.