Denice Zamboanga intrigued by Chihiro Sawada’s dominant wrestling pedigree: “That will be a great challenge”
Second-ranked ONE Championship women's atomweight MMA contender, 'The Menace' Denice Zamboanga of the Philippines, is intrigued by a potential showdown with Japanese standout Chihiro Sawada.
Sawada joined the world's largest martial arts organization in February 2023 and has been on an absolute tear since.
The Japanese star has taken out top names Jihin Radzuan and Noelle Grandjean in impressive fashion to boost her stock in the rankings. She is currently 3-0 in ONE Championship.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post in a recent interview, Zamboanga says she is looking forward to a potential fight with Sawada.
'The Menace' said:
"I’ve never fought [an opponent] with her skillset before. Most of my opponents are strikers. That will be a great challenge for me."
'The Menace' Denice Zamboanga is set to lock horns with 28-year-old 'Lil' Monkey' Noelle Grandjean of France and Thailand at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II on Prime Video.
The event broadcasts live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action on U.S. primetime, live and absolutely free on Friday, June 7th, only on Amazon Prime Video.
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding the event.
Denice Zamboanga rues missed world title opportunity against bestie Stamp Fairtex: "I hope ONE Championship will introduce an interim world title"
Filipina standout 'The Menace' Denice Zamboanga has just missed out on a world title shot once again after her original opponent, reigning ONE women's atomweight MMA world champion Stamp Fairtex, pulled out of their ONE 167 main event showdown due to injury.
Zamboanga, trying to stay positive, hopes ONE would put an interim belt up for grabs and she wants to be the one to compete for it.
The Quezon City native said:
"Hopefully when I get the win on June 7, I hope ONE Championship will introduce an interim [world title] so the atomweight division doesn’t have to wait too long. Anyone from the ranking in the division."