Angela Lee and Stamp Fairtex face a crossroads moment at Saturday’s ONE X event inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Lee, ONE Championship’s long-reigning atomweight queen, and Stamp, arguably the fastest-rising star on the promotion’s roster, will collide in the card’s main event, with a newly revamped world title belt hanging in the balance. The “26.4 pounds of precious gold” also comes with a special case designed by Tumi, as part of a new multi-year partnership with the premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand Title fights are always a big deal, but in this instance, the stakes are particularly massive for both women. Canadian-American Lee (10-2) will be competing for the first time since October 2019, when she defended her title with a fifth-round submission victory over ONE strawweight champion Xiong Jingnan. She also gave birth to her first child in April 2021. The champion has made a stunning physical transformation since her pregnancy, but has faced a deluge of doubt nonetheless, with fans and pundits alike questioning her ability to perform at the highest level after such a long lay-off. Lee has countered those questions by asserting that the lay-off has actually given her time to grow as a martial artist, and that motherhood has given her extra motivation to win. ONE X open workouts signal promotion’s return to normalcy in Singapore “It feels so good to be back in Singapore,” the 25-year-old, who has held the atomweight title since 2016, said at Thursday afternoon’s ONE X open workouts outside the city’s Kallang Wave Mall. “I’m so excited to show what I’ve been working on,” she added. “I feel like I’m better than ever honestly. I’ve been putting in some work, working on growing and developing as a martial artist, and of course with my daughter here in Singapore, it’s the best motivation for me. You guys are in for a treat on Saturday.” “This fight is huge, and on an event like this, ONE X – it’s crazy to be headlining a card like this. There’s a lot of pressure, there’s a lot at stake, but I love that. I love it when the stakes are at the highest. I feel like I perform my best.” Lee’s opponent Stamp travelled a different road to ONE X, but the stakes of the bout are just as high for her. The 24-year-old Thai burst onto the scene in 2018 and 2019, when she earned her place in the ONE Championship history books by winning titles in both Muay Thai and kick-boxing. While she has since lost those belts – both by way of debatable decisions – she has counterbalanced those setbacks by making an impressive transition into MMA. Her biggest accomplishment in her new sport occurred last year, when she defeated former Indian national wrestling champion Ritu Phogat by submission to win ONE’s atomweight grand prix and earn a shot at Lee. ONE X: new world title belt ushers in new ONE Championship era If Stamp is able to defeat the returning champion on Saturday, she’ll be the first fighter in history to win major titles in Muay Thai, kick-boxing and MMA. “I feel very confident,” she said at Thursday’s open workouts, grinning from ear-to-ear in spite of the sweltering heat. “The reason I’m with ONE is because I want the third belt in MMA.” Winning titles in all three disciplines would be an impressive feat, but that is not where Stamp’s ambition ends. If she defeats Lee on Saturday night, she aims to reclaim her former Muay Thai and kickboxing titles and become a concurrent three-sport champion. “Definitely I want to go back and get the other two belts in Muay Thai and kickboxing,” she said. “I want to get all three belts.” Yet a loss for Stamp would be disastrous – specifically if it’s decisive. If she is beaten, she will need to decide if she wants to stick with MMA and work her way back to a title shot – a difficult task under any circumstances – or hit the ejector seat altogether and return to the two sports that first made her a star. It’s anyone’s guess which woman will leave Singapore with ONE’s atomweight title in their luggage, and which will leave heartbroken. Yet that is precisely what makes the fight so alluring, and worthy of headlining the 20-fight ONE X event, which stands out as the biggest the organisation has ever promoted. Perhaps Chatri Sityodtong, ONE Championship’s founder, CEO and Chairman, said it best. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) He has made it clear he is leaning toward a Stamp victory, but feels the match-up is just about a coin flip. “Angela will come in and she might have a little bit of ring rust,” Chatri told the Post inside the One Farrer hotel in Singapore. “Of course she has confidence, and she’s an extraordinary world champion, but I think Stamp is the most dangerous opponent in Angela’s career. “It’s going to be very challenging. It’s a 50-50 fight, but I give the edge to Stamp.” The ONE X event will be divided into three segments. Lee and Stamp will collide in the final bout of the third segment, which will be available exclusively on pay-per-view through ONE Championship’s website.