As Noelle Grandjean gears up for what is undeniably the most crucial bout of her career against Denice Zamboanga, the French-Thai heroine believes she holds a trump card that could tilt the balance in her favor.
Both women are slated to face each other in a three-round atomweight MMA encounter at ONE 167, emanating live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday.
The circumstances leading to this moment are as intriguing as they are unexpected.
Grandjean’s involvement in this matchup stemmed from a sudden turn of events, prompted by the unfortunate injury of Stamp Fairtex, who had to withdraw from her ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title defense against Zamboanga due to a torn meniscus.
Despite coming off a tough loss against Chihiro Sawada this past May, “Lil Monkey” couldn’t resist the opportunity presented to her.
If seized, it’s a chance that could propel her back into relevancy.
“Honestly, I just think it’s a big opportunity, and I know a lot of people would love to be in my place. So I just realized I need to take this opportunity,” Grandjean said.
“This opportunity also came at a moment I was having doubts about my career, and this was when I got the call. I was thinking this is where the universe wants me to go, and there’s no time for doubts and questioning. I think it’s going to be a fun fight.”
(c) ONEFC.com
While the odds may seem stacked against her, the 28-year-old remains undeterred.
Drawing on her past experiences, she sees a glimmer of hope in her familiarity with the current No. 2 atomweight MMA contender.
The two fighters once worked together as teammates at the Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand, an experience that Grandjean feels gives her a unique edge.
“I think being familiar with her will help, and it’s more fun for me,” she stated.
“Of course, we don’t want to punch each other’s faces. But at the end of the day, we have the same goal. That’s what we have to do. After the fight, we can eat donuts together.”
While she acknowledges Zamboanga’s growth and evolution since their time together, Grandjean issues a stern warning that her own development should not be overlooked.
“I think I might be one of the athletes who has improved their game the most because I started a bit late. I trained with her when I was really starting MMA. So my improvement has been huge since then,” Grandjean stressed.
“I’ve fought different styles and in different countries. So I guess she will notice that on fight night.”
Undoubtedly, Grandjean’s decision to step inside the cage with Zamboanga carries inherent risks.
Yet, it is precisely this willingness to embrace the danger that defines her as a competitor.
For Grandjean, the potential rewards — both personal and professional — far outweigh the uncertainties that lie ahead.
“Denice is a top contender. If I get a win against Denice, it will definitely propel me to the belt. It’s a big opportunity, so I took it,” she ended.
