With Stamp Fairtex recovering on the sidelines, the spotlight shifts to Denice Zamboanga and Alyona Rassohyna, who are set to battle for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Championship at ONE Fight Night 27, this coming Friday, January 10.
For Zamboanga, who’s been chasing championship glory ever since her debut in ONE back in 2019, this is more than just a fight – it’s a shot at making history and strapping 26 pounds of gold around her waist.
Nicknamed “The Menace,” Zamboanga knows this won’t be a walk in the park. She’s been studying Rassohyna closely, knowing the Ukrainian warrior offers one of the toughest challenges of her career.
“In that fight, it was the first time I saw Stamp really struggle,” Zamboanga shared. “Alyona was the only one who truly gave her a hard time. She’s well-rounded, unpredictable, and capable of pulling off unexpected moves – that’s what makes her dangerous.”
Since joining the promotion, Zamboanga has shown remarkable evolution in her skill set. Now, at 27 years old, she’s determined to prove that she can dominate the ground game against Rassohyna, who’s best known for her striking prowess.
“I want to test her grappling,” Zamboanga declared confidently. “Most of her opponents have been strikers, which is why she’s been able to control the ground game. But she hasn’t faced someone like me – a pure grappler and wrestler. I’m ready to prove that I’m better than her on the ground.”
To ensure she’s at her peak, Zamboanga has been laser-focused on sharpening her wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“My team has been instrumental in my progress,” she added. “They’ve been working closely with me, analyzing my every move, and improving my ground game constantly. I’m coming into this fight with confidence.”
The atomweight division is stacked with elite talent, and Zamboanga knows that being well-rounded is the key to success. Whether it’s on the feet or on the mat, she’s prepared to dictate the pace and control the action.
“In MMA, you can’t just rely on one thing. You need to be complete. That’s why I’m confident every time I step into the cage – I can finish the fight wherever it goes,” she emphasized.
But there’s more on the line than just the interim gold. Winning in Bangkok on January 10 would be the perfect way to kick off the year and celebrate her upcoming birthday later in the month.
“It would mean a lot to start the year with a win and celebrate my birthday with a World Title,” she said. “This would be an incredible way to begin 2025.”
It hasn’t been an easy road for Zamboanga. She’s had to make plenty of sacrifices during this training camp, especially with it taking place over the holiday season. While others were enjoying festive feasts, she was grinding in the gym, staying disciplined.
“I missed out on all the holiday fun – Christmas, New Year’s, all of it. I couldn’t indulge in the celebrations or even eat much,” Zamboanga admitted. “But that’s just more fuel for me. I’ll take all that frustration and let it out in the cage.”
Denice Zamboanga is ready to put it all on the line and chase her dream of gold. Don’t miss the action when ONE Fight Night 27 goes live and free on Prime Video at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST this Friday, January 10.