MIXED martial arts (MMA) athlete Denice Zamboanga is one tough cookie who’s been making a name for herself inside the One Championship circle since her debut in December 2019.
Since she defeated Jihin Radzuan by unanimous decision in One: Mark of Greatness, she’s been in “who’s next” mode in a span of less than a year. After Radzuan, she put away heavy favorite Mei Yamaguchi also by unanimous decision in “Fire and Fury” (February 2020). A year ago, she claimed her third victim in One, Watsapinya Kaewkhong of Thailand by submission.
Counting her other victories before she joined the One family, she has had eight successful bouts (three unanimous decisions, three submissions and two TKOs) with no losses to show.
Zamboanga, who now trains out of the Marrok Force Gym in Bangkok, is so good she is one of eight fighters who have been selected to slug it out in One’s Inaugural Women’s Atomweight Grand Prix. She will face veteran and well-seasoned Seo Hee Ham of South Korea in One Championship: Empower on September 3.
Clearly, she’s rattling the cage and making waves, prompting everyone to ask where she wants to go. Judging from her trajectory, bold style and unshakeable confidence, the path can only lead to Angela Lee, the young martial arts phenom who is the reigning One Women’s Atomweight World Champion. Aptly named “Unstoppable,” Lee is the standard every atomweight measures herself against. And the prized apple they all want to shake from the tree.
Denice does not play coy about wanting to challenge Angela. In fact, mainstream and social media were abuzz with the Angela Lee-Denice Zamboanga feud that featured some hot and spicy exchanges between the two.
The Filipina, considered the No. 1-ranked contender after her string of impressive performances, was not shy about wanting to take a shot at the title. When Lee became pregnant and any possible encounter with any challenger had to be put on hold, Zamboanga expressed her opinion candidly. Lee should do what all great champions do, she said. Respect other fighters and vacate the championship belt since she cannot defend it.
Lee called Zamboanga “entitled,” adding “You’re an eager, up and coming contender, but I hate to break it to you. You don’t get a free belt just like that. You gotta EARN it by taking it from The Champ.”… The Grand Prix will produce the true No. 1 contender and I will defend my belt against the Grand Prix winner,” the Champ clapped back.
So. To get to where Angela is, the Lycan Queen has to embark on a voyage quite like the one Odysseus took to get to Ithaca. The path is strewn with myriad obstacles and challenges. And copious amounts of patience, unwavering focus and fierce determination are required.
This is the road map. To get to Angela Lee and her precious belt, Denice must first slay dragons along the way. She must defeat her opponent Seo Hee Han in the first round of the Grand Prix. If she does, she moves on to face the winner of the bout between Ukranian Alyona Rassohyna and the wily Stamp Fairtex of Thailand in the next round. Assuming she triumphs again in the second round, her ordeal continues.
She has to conquer the winner of the other division—anyone among USA’s Alyse Anderson, Japan’s Itsuki Hirata, China’s Meng Bo or India’s Ritu Phogat. And if at the end of that trail, she is still unbowed and standing, then she meets Angela Lee in that much coveted, much aspired for title fight.
“It seems like they’re throwing everything at you, giving you the toughest, most experienced fighters before you can go where you want to go. Mukhang inilalayo ka nila talaga kay Angela Lee,” Randy Caluag of the Manila Standard teased Denice at Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Lee has not made it any easier for the determined 24-year-old from Quezon City who says she is inspired by the feats of Olympians Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial to give pride to the country. Lee picked Seo Hee Han to triumph over Zamboanga in their upcoming first round fight, citing her experience.
“I’m not focused on what Angela feels. I’m focused on my opponent. Actually, what she said—that I won’t get through the first round—has given me extra motivation,” said Denice, playing it extra cool this time.
“Na-trigger lang siya sa akin dahil sa mga sinabi ko dati. Ako kasi ang unang fighter na nagreply sa kanya. All the rest preferred to stay quiet,” Denice explained.
Her team—brother Drex and coach Fritz Biagtan—says Denice continues to work hard and is polishing her game. And they both agree. She IS tough.
“Denice trains with male fighters and they’re not being soft on her either,” revealed Coach Fritz.
Denice vows she will not let her fans or the country down. “Ibang Denice ang lalabas sa September 3. Magandang laban ito. This is the co-main event that should be the main event. Hindi sila magsisising [panoorin],” she said.
If the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, that first step is the fight against 34-year-old veteran Seo Hee Ham inside the ONE Circle on Empower. It is the first all-female fighters MMA event in history.