On the evening of September 29th, the electrifying atmosphere of the Singapore Indoor Stadium will reverberate not just through the island nation but also across the world, thanks to ONE Fight Night 14, which will have Thai dynamo Stamp Fairtex squaring off against South Korean stalwart Ham Seo Hee, as they clash for the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title. And guess what? We’re not just talking about another championship fight; we’re talking about history in the making.
Twenty-five-year-old Stamp Fairtex is not just gunning for another championship title; she is aiming for a trifecta of world titles in three different combat sports. Already a juggernaut in kickboxing and Muay Thai, she now sets her sights on the world of mixed martial arts. “And after previously holding World Titles in both kickboxing and Muay Thai, Stamp could establish herself as one of the greatest combat sports athletes ever by adding mixed martial arts gold to her trophy case,” said the official press release, underscoring the magnitude of her ambition.
Stamp has transitioned from being a renowned Muay Thai striker to a versatile MMA fighter with a skill set that has grown exponentially in the past few years. Last September, she showcased her evolving ground game with a devastating ground-and-pound attack and a memorable elbow in a triumphant bout against Jihin Radzuan. Most recently, she floored American rising star Alyse Anderson with a crushing body kick knockout, as if sending a message to the MMA world about her deadly striking capabilities. This secured her status as the division’s number one contender and brought her one step closer to her dream of three-sport glory.
Now, on the other side of the ring, stands the formidable Ham Seo Hee. A confident Ham Seo Hee declared before her clash with Stamp Fairtex that she’s a cut above when it comes to MMA. A seasoned MMA practitioner, Ham has been at the top of her game in the atomweight division for over a decade.
“I am doing my best to prepare in every aspect rather than just preparing separately for one area,” Ham informed onefc.com, indicating her comprehensive approach to the bout. She continued, “But as we both possess striking strengths, I am focusing on training to showcase it during the title fight.”
Her recent victory over Itsuki Hirata in March earned her a shot at interim gold, and now she is training full-throttle for her face-off against Stamp. With 34 MMA bouts since 2007 and currently riding a nine-fight winning streak, Ham possesses a breadth of experience that could prove vital. “I think Stamp is a powerful opponent. Her Muay Thai strikes are powerful, and she successfully transitioned them into MMA. But I’m a cut above her in MMA. I think MMA striking has different distances and movements that set it apart,” Ham revealed.
Confident but not complacent, Ham also spoke about her mental preparation for the duel: “I can’t say who holds the advantage, but I maintain confidence against any opponent. I always aim for the finish and try to fight aggressively. However, I also consider the judges’ verdicts and make sure to prepare accordingly. It’s great if I get the finish, but even if I don’t, I enjoy being in the Circle and don’t mind spending more time there. I will always try my best, give it my all, and come out without any regrets.”
A legend in her own right, Ham sees this fight as a potential crowning achievement in her already storied career. “I think the ONE Championship belt will be the final achievement. That’s why it means a lot to me. I want to continue fighting this level of competition while defending the World Title for a long time,” she emphasised.
This is not just a match; it’s an epic saga in the making. For Stamp Fairtex, it’s an opportunity to achieve something never done before—a historic third world title in a third combat sport. For Ham Seo Hee, it’s a culmination of a career filled with adversity, struggle, and triumph, with the ultimate accolade tantalisingly within reach.
It’s a clash of titans, where age meets youth, experience faces exuberance, and history wrestles with destiny. So, mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen. When these two warriors step into the ring on September 29th, they won’t just be fighting for a title; they’ll be fighting for legacy, for history, and for the very soul of combat sports.
