Atomweight MMA queen Stamp Fairtex hopes to return to action “next year around March” after suffering torn meniscus
Stamp Fairtex has been on a steady and positive road to recovery, but she believes that she won't see action until the first few months of 2025.
The reigning ONE women's atomweight MMA world champion said in an interview with Nic Atkin that she expects to be in full health in March 2025 after she suffered a devastating knee injury earlier this year.
Stamp was supposed to defend her gold against close friend and former training partner Denice Zamboanga at ONE 167 this past June but had to pull out of the card after suffering a torn meniscus during training camp.
She has since undergone surgery and is now going through physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain the strength in her left leg.
Stamp Fairtex said:
"Hopefully, next year around March or something like that. Maybe April."
Stamp is undoubtedly one of the best fighters of the current era, and she made her mark not just on one sport but on three.
The 26-year-old is the first fighter in ONE Championship history to capture world titles in MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing.
Stamp first captured the ONE atomweight kickboxing world championship when she beat Taiwan's Chuang Kai Ting in October 2018. She then added the ONE atomweight Muay Thai world title to her collection when she overcame Japanese-American legend Janet Todd in February 2019.
Although she relinquished both straps in 2020, Stamp decided to fully turn her attention to MMA where she found unprecedented success. Stamp captured the ONE Atomweight MMA World Grand Prix Title when she submitted Indian wrestling royalty Ritu Phogat in December 2021.
The natural striker reached the pinnacle of MMA when she claimed the vacant ONE women's atomweight MMA world title after knocking out Ham Seo Hee in September 2023.
Watch Stamp's entire interview below:
Stamp Fairtex reveals the most difficult part of her recovery from injury
Stamp Fairtex has always been a tough fighter, but she sometimes gets impatient when everything's considered.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Stamp said the most difficult part of her recovery is slowly regaining the muscles she lost when she tore the meniscus in her left knee.
Stamp said:
"Rebuilding the lost muscles on my leg is the toughest part. I have to recover as much muscle as I can after the surgery."