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#2. Stamp Fairtex - ONE Championship atomweight World Grand Prix champion
It's crazy to think that just 3 years ago, ONE Championship atomweight MMA fighter Stamp Fairtex was just known as a gifted Muay Thai fighter. Knowing what she's achieved since transitioning to MMA, however, you'd think she'd been doing it all her life.
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The Muay Thai legend-in-the-making had one of the best years in ONE Championship, ever. Stamp plowed through her competition en route to winning ONE Championship's 2021 atomweight Grand Prix tournament.
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Who she had to face and how she beat them made all her bouts in 2021 even more rewarding.
In the tournament's opening round, Stamp avenged her only MMA loss to submission specialist Alyona Rassohyna. She then out-classed Julie Mezabarba in the semi-finals.
Leading up to the final bout against wrestling prodigy Ritu Phogat, Stamp had already made leaps and bounds with her grappling game.
Phogat, a former world champion in wrestling, was seen as a massive test for Stamp. Fighters and pundits were predicting that for Stamp to win, she'd have to keep the fight on the feet like her life depended on it.
In a stunning turn of events, the former ONE kickboxing and Muay Thai champion locked in a deep triangle choke which she then transitioned to an armbar. Phogat had no choice but to tap.
Just like that, Stamp capped off her 2021 with a Grand Prix silver belt and a shot at atomweight champion Angela 'Unstoppable' Lee in 2022.
#1. Ok Rae Yoon - ONE Championship lightweight world champion
The Korean fighting sensation Ok Rae Yoon not only had an awesome 2021, he also had perhaps the best freshman year in ONE Championship history. Imagine debuting in one of the premier MMA organizations in the world and winning its championship in the same year. It's nuts.
After impressing everyone in his ONE debut against former featherweight champ Marat 'Cobra' Gafurov, Ok fought his next bout just 21 days later.
In his second fight, Ok faced MMA legend and former UFC lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez with less than a month to prepare. Despite this, Ok showed Alvarez that there are levels to this game and he's on a different one. He won the bout via a clear unanimous decision.
Putting a stamp on his successful 2021 campaign, Ok beat dominant lightweight champion Christian 'The Warrior' Lee for the belt. Though their bout was razor-close with Ok getting hurt multiple times, he managed to secure a decision win.
A rematch is imminent in 2022 to determine who truly deserves ONE Championship's lightweight throne. With his three incredible wins plus the lightweight belt around his waist, however, Ok definitely deserves ONE Championship's fighter of the year award.
