The former ONE three-sport world champion returned from a career-threatening knee injury last November against Kana Morimoto in atomweight kickboxing at A 173 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
The 28-year-old Thai megastar lost via unanimous decision, but achieved something more valuable than the win.
Her surgically repaired knee lasted nine minutes in the elite competition, proving she could still be among the best.
The torn meniscus in May 2024 destroyed everything. Camp preparation for Denice Zamboanga collapsed when Stamp’s knee gave out during training. Surgery followed, then rehab, and more setbacks when her recovery timeline betrayed her again.
She made the selfless decision to vacate the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title rather than hold the division hostage.
But validation sometimes tastes sweeter than any belt. Stamp entered 2026 healthy and hungry, ready to reclaim what she sacrificed for the greater good.
“I expect to be the best version of myself that I can be,” she said. “My goal is to hunt for my title.”
Stamp Fairtex maps out the strategic path before pursuing the title
Stamp Fairtex captured the sport’s most prized asset by defeating Ham Seo Hee at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023, becoming the first three-sport world champion in ONE history.
The achievement felt monumental until an injury erased it before her reign really began.
Zamboanga now has undisputed status after Stamp’s sacrifice allowed the atomweight MMA landscape to progress. The Thai forward is planning a full campaign to rebuild the momentum and remind everyone why she became a three-sport queen in the first place.
She is targeting three to four fights this year, although she admits she is in no rush to jump straight back into world title contention. Another high-profile fight would allow her to rebuild conditioning in the environment in which she first came to prominence.
“This year, I’m ready for ONE to give me a date,” she said. “Maybe it’s another Muay Thai fight first to get my cardio and rhythm back in place.”
Vero caught Stamp’s attention as a potential opponent. The Myanmar striker’s aggressive style would be exactly the test needed before returning to MMA. Whether that matchup will materialize or whether ONE will accelerate her return remains unclear. But one truth remains crystal clear.
Stamp didn’t last two years on the sidelines to take it easy. She is approaching 2026 at full speed to win back ONE gold.
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