Denice Zamboanga isn’t going anywhere.
The 27-year-old Quezon City resident will still see action at ONE 167 on June 8, squaring off with Noelle Grandjean in a three-round women’s atomweight MMA encounter.
Originally, Zamboanga was penciled to challenge Stamp Fairtex for the divisional crown on the same card. However, the Thai superstar suffered a torn meniscus in her left knee, forcing her to withdraw from her World Title defense.
Stamp underwent surgery last Monday, May 20, and she will soon begin physical therapy.
Fortunately for Zamboanga, her preparation won’t go to waste as Grandjean has stepped in to fill the void left by the injured Stamp.
This bold move by “Lil Monkey” allows the show set to emanate live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, to proceed as planned, albeit with a different matchup for the Filipina heroine.
Grandjean has experienced a mixed track record in her ONE Championship stint, alternating between wins and losses.
In fact, the French-Thai sensation is coming off a lopsided decision defeat at the hands of Chihiro Sawada earlier this month.
Despite this setback, Grandjean (5-2) has secured the biggest bout of her career yet by taking on Zamboanga, who is currently ranked as the No. 2 women’s atomweight MMA contender.
A victory for Grandjean could significantly disrupt the Top Five of the weight class, potentially impacting Zamboanga’s standing.
Zamboanga (10-2), on the other hand, is riding high on a two-fight winning streak.
“The Menace” has been on a relentless pursuit of a championship opportunity since her victory over Mei Yamaguchi in February 2020.
Zamboanga must deliver a stellar performance against Grandjean to continue her chase for 26 pounds of gold.
