For Denice Zamboanga, facing former RIZIN super atomweight champ Seo Hee Ham will mean a lot for her future in the ONE Championship atomweight division.
A win against Seo will show how far Zamboanga has gone and if she is ready to face current champion Angela Lee.
“I think having a Grand Prix would be great for me and every fighter to prove who is ripe for a title shot,” said Zamboanga on Zoom some three days before the start of the all women’s mixed martial arts fights at ONE: Empower in Singapore.
The 24-year-old Zamboanga is one of the eight fighters selected to compete in the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight Grand Prix.
Zamboanga goes into action with eight straight wins, including three that she has won after joining ONE last year.
The last time Zamboanga fought, she beat Watsapinya Kaewkhong by submission at the ONE Championship: A New Breed last Saturday.
Zamboanga said she relishes the thought of her fans clamoring for her to go into a showdown with Lee.
“It will be great if I’ll be facing off with Angela. Because a lot of fans are waiting for me to fight her,” added Zamboanga.
Seo will have her debut bout with the ONE Championships. She has won six straight fights before going into an 18-month layoff.
Her last fight, which was with Ayaka Hamasaki, was won by split decision.
“I’m excited to face Denice Zamboanga. I can’t wait to get crazy in there,” said Seo.
The event was originally scheduled to take place on May 28, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore at the time.