ONE Championship: Stamp Fairtex warns Ritu Phogat – ‘you better prepare, I’m gonna be even better next time’
- The 24-year-old secures impressive unanimous decision win against Julie Mezabarba in atomweight grand prix semi-final
- ‘I have showed I have improved. My Muay Thai in MMA is not overrated,’ says Stamp
Stamp Fairtex fired a warning to Ritu Phogat after the pair booked their places in ONE Championship’s atomweight grand prix final with unanimous decision wins on Friday night in Singapore.
“The Indian Tigress” Phogat (7-1) dominated late replacement Jenelyn Olsim (5-3), of the Philippines, while Thailand’s Stamp (7-1) showed off all her striking guile to shut down Brazilian alternate Julie Mezabarba (9-3-1).
“Well, you better prepare very well, because I’m gonna be even better next time,” Stamp said, when asked if she had a message for Phogat in her post-fight interview. “I have showed I have improved. My Muay Thai in MMA is not overrated.”
The two then faced off inside the ONE Circle at Singapore Indoor Stadium, ahead of their showdown on December 3, where the winner will earn a shot against divisional champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee (10-2).
“I already know how good Ritu is at wrestling,” Stamp later said backstage. “I think I’ll try to keep the distance. I don’t want her to keep close to me. I’ll use my Muay Thai to keep a long range with her.
“I will try punches. I will try clinches. I will try to knee and kick her. Then I will have a chance to win.”