KEY POINTS

  • Stamp Fairtex opens up on her preparations that led to her victory over Ritu Phogat
  • Stamp says training with male grapplers immensely helped her in the fight
  • A fight against Angela Lee for the atomweight title is next for Stamp

Stamp Fairtex claimed victory over Ritu Phogat in the finals of the ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix with a superb and unexpected submission that surprised even the Thai heroine.

Speaking to the press during the virtual post-event press conference, Stamp revealed that she was not afraid of the Indian's wrestling prowess once they got down to business.

“After having to grapple with her, I knew the power, the strength behind [her attempts] was not the same as the training partners that I had. There’s a [major] difference between the strength of a man and a woman that I trained with so that’s when I started to have the confidence,” Stamp told the media.

In the co-main event of ONE: Winter Warriors held last Friday, December 3, Stamp and Phogat were set for a titanic clash for the right to face the atomweight queen Angela Lee at a future event.

Both fighters were primed for a grind out battle with Stamp having the advantage on the feet and Phogat being capable of putting on a masterclass on the ground.

“The Indian Tigress” sought to put pressure on Stamp by taking her to the ground early and quickly, but the 24-year-old from Thailand was able to snuff out most of her attempts but was finally brought to the mat towards the end of the round.

Phogat expended so much energy in trying to get the takedown that she looked exhausted when they went to their corners, and Stamp looked to take advantage of it.

The former two-sport champion again defended well against Phogat, but the 27-year-old remained headstrong in her desire to ground-and-pound her way to victory.

However, Phogat was caught in a triangle choke by Stamp.

The armbar came after Phogat tried to transition out of the triangle and was forced to tap, a shocking end to a highly0anticipated fight.

“This was one of the hardest preparations I’ve ever had in my life compared to my other fights. I have never prepared as much [as for this fight]. I’ve had a lot of injuries. I had a lot of rigorous training and I put a lot on the line and having a great nutrition plan. It’s the biggest preparation I’ve ever had,” Fairtex shared.

Stamp will have an opportunity to cement herself as one of the most iconic fighters that ONE Championship has ever had when she faces Lee for her third combat sports world title.

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