ONE Championship has a history of showcasing innovative martial arts fights, and ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex wants in on the action.
The world’s largest martial arts organization has staged a series of mixed and special rules bouts over the years as it continues to change the landscape of combat sports.
The highest profile encounter was the mixed rules super-fight between ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson and divisional Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE X in 2022.
Demetrious Johnson put Rodtang Jitmuangnon to SLEEP at ONE X!@MightyMouse #ONEX #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/K9LVlRNPs5
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 4, 2022
The pair locked horns in a bout that alternated between Muay Thai and mixed martial arts rules from round to round. Ultimately “Mighty Mouse” weathered the storm in the first round before submitting Rodtang in the second frame under MMA rules.
Most recently at ONE Fight Night 14 in September, ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Champion Xiong Jing Nan prevailed over Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak by TKO in a special rules bout that allowed only hand strikes with the contestants wearing 4-ounce MMA gloves.
Now, Stamp Fairtex wants a crack at the entertaining format. “If possible, I want to fight in special rules with MMA and Muay Thai. I missed this opportunity once. I’m interested in boxing in small gloves with special rules, as well,” she said.
Stamp Fairtex always looking for new challenges
Stamp is keen to get out of her comfort zone. The ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion is on the hunt for her next challenge after defeating Ham Seo Hee for the vacant strap in September, and it appears, in the same vein, the Johnson-Rodtang super-fight is on her mind.
“I feel like I want to try something new with special rules. These new challenges will inspire me to work harder and succeed more,” Stamp said. The Thai megastar was scheduled to face kickboxing legend Anissa Meksen in a mixed-rules bout earlier this year at ONE Fight Night 6, but the French-Algerian fighter was forced to withdraw.
Stamp went on to face Anna “Supergirl” Jaroonsak under kickboxing rules instead. The 25-year-old emerged victorious via split decision after a thrilling contest.