If Team Lakay’s Danny “The King” Kingad and Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon were to be asked, they think Stamp Fairtex is on her way to becoming the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Champion.
For it to become a reality, No. 2-ranked Stamp will have to survive No. 4-ranked Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat in the finale set at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS, which airs on 3 December from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Belingon, the No. 2-ranked bantamweight, believes this match is hard to call, considering their contrasting expertise. But if he’s to give a prediction, he’s favoring Stamp.
“They’re both good. They’re tremendous athletes with different expertise. If this match goes to the ground, it’s Ritu, and Stamp takes it on the feet. But my bet is on Stamp Fairtex,” the former ONE Bantamweight World Champion said.
“I believe that her striking is so much better and that her ground game has improved and is looking more and more polished in each fight. This is just my opinion, but I feel like Stamp is more experienced than Ritu.
“I’m not discounting the fact that Ritu can win and submit her, given her strength and grappling. I’m taking Stamp. Let’s just wait and see.”
The ladies burst into the final after two hard-fought matches, with Phogat surviving the early barrage of Meng Bo in the quarterfinals before outlasting replacement Jenelyn Olsim in the semis.
On the other hand, the former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion avenged her controversial loss to Alyona Rassohyna by beating her in the quarterfinals before upending Julie Mezabarba in the final four.
The Thai’s improvement in her last two matches, particularly in the Rassohyna bout, is why Kingad is siding with her in this showdown.
“It’s the ground game versus striking. It’s hard to tell, but I feel like Stamp will win,” the #2-ranked flyweight said.
“I’ve seen how much she’s improved on the ground (against Rassohyna), who’s also a very good grappler. Now Stamp has it all. She can defend on the ground, she has punches and kicks, and that’s why I’m taking her.”
The winner of this clash between two of the more popular ONE female fighters will also get a shot at the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title held by “Unstoppable” Angela Lee.