ONE Championship: Noelle Grandjean replaces Stamp Fairtex as opponent to Denice Zamboanga in non-title bout at ONE 167
- It was announced on Tuesday that atomweight MMA champion Stamp had withdrawn after having to undergo knee surgery
- Frenchwoman Grandjean was called up at short notice and will fight Zamboanga in a non-title fight in Bangkok on June 7
Denice Zamboanga is about to face a totally different type of challenge to the one she has been preparing months for.
It was announced on Tuesday that Stamp Fairtex, whose atomweight MMA title Zamboanga was trying to challenge for in the headline bout at ONE 167, had undergone knee surgery and would be out of action for several months.
However, ONE Championship has wasted no time in finding a new opponent for the Filipina, lining up Noelle Grandjean at very short notice – the fight takes place at Impact Arena in Bangkok on June 7, barely two weeks away.
Grandjean, though, comes from a judo background, with a black belt and numerous competitive wins.
Stamp, on the other hand, comes from a Muay Thai background and is known for her striking game – she knocked out her past two opponents.
But besides having to adjust her preparations for the change of opponent, No 2-ranked Zamboanga will also have to deal with the disappointment of seeing another title shot fall through.
