Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga. Handout photoMANILA -- Reigning ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex expressed support for no. 2-ranked Denice Zamboanga after top contender Ham Seo Hee questioned the Filipina's standing in the division.

The South Korean thought that after she beat Zamboanga twice in the past, she should be the one vying for the interim world title while Stamp recovers from a meniscus tear.

MMA: Zamboanga tells Ham Seo Hee -- 'I've earned my spot'

While Stamp sees her point, she also believes the division should move forward by giving some fresh contenders a chance like Zamboanga and Alyona Rassohyna who haven’t had a shot at gold yet.

"I saw [Ham Seo Hee's] Instagram post. I agree with some of Ham's points, but I also agree with some of the points from Denice. Because [Ham] already had the chance to fight with me already, there has to be a next one to have a chance to fight with me,” Stamp told sports platform Sportskeeda.

READ: MMA: Denice Zamboanga vies for interim world title at ONE Fight Night 25

Most would be surprised to learn that Zamboanga hasn’t tasted a world title shot even after being ranked for the last four years, but bad luck and bad timing played a role in that more than anything else.

Zamboanga was originally scheduled to challenge then-atomweight queen Angela Lee a few years back, but the pandemic and the latter’s pregnancy thereafter prolonged her world title shot.  

A ONE Atomweight MMA World Grand Prix was then set up in lieu of Lee’s absence, but Zamboanga lost a controversial fight to Ham in the first round of the said tournament before the Korean erased all doubts with a more convincing win in the rematch.

The Filipina crept back into contendership with convincing victories over Lin Heqin and Julie Mezabarba, getting her a shot at Stamp -- but then Thai the had to pull out because of the meniscus tear.

READ: MMA: Injured Zamboanga withdraws from interim title fight

Zamboanga continued to prove her stature as the next contender by gamely putting her ranking on the line against Noelle Grandjean, a fight she hurdled.

Afterward, a shot at the ONE Interim Atomweight World Title opened up for Zamboanga. She was scheduled to take on Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 25, but as fate would have it, it was the Filipina’s turn to experience an injury with a pulled hamstring.

With the 27-year-old now close-to-healthy, she’s ready to resume her quest for gold and, be it against Stamp or against any other contender for an interim title, she promises to be ready.

“I’m ready to prove myself again. I won’t let this chance slip through my fingers,” Zamboanga said.

READ: Denice Zamboanga looks to 'adapt and overcome' vs. new foe

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