KEY POINTS

  • Stamp Fairtex claims it should be Ritu Phogat who should be scared of her
  • Stamp feels ready for Phogat's impeccable ground game
  • The winner of the fight gets a shot at Angela Lee's atomweight title at a future event

Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex is out to prove to Ritu Phogat that she is in no way afraid of her going into their ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix finals matchup at ONE: Winter Warriors on December 3.

Speaking with the International Business Times, Stamp responded to Phogat’s claims of her being “petrified” of “The Indian Tigress.”

“I do respect her as [she is] a great fighter. She’s good [with] what she’s got [wrestling]. I’m also great [with] what I have [Muay Thai]. I would say I [am] not scared of her at all. [Quite the] opposite, I’m quite confident on myself. It’s more like a ‘how to show our skill in the fight, who [will determine who wins],” Stamp confidently said in her native language.

The 24-year-old from Fairtex Training Center also claimed that it should be Phogat who should be worried instead because of her superior striking.

Stamp plans on keeping the fight at a distance so as to take away Phogat from taking her down to the ground and unleashing a flurry of punches from top position, but she is confident in her ever-developing ground game in case the Indian does succeed in dragging her to the mat.

“I would say my ground game has [improved] every time I fight. I never [thought] I could come this far, but I made it come to the finals. So I’m confident of my ground skills more and more; even if I know that I’m not the best [at it], I’ve improved day by day,” Stamp stated.

At ONE: NextGen this past October, the former ONE women’s atomweight Muay Thai and kickboxing champion punched her ticket to the finals by defeating Julie Mezabarba by unanimous decision on the same night that Phogat defeated Jenelyn Olsim.

The winner between Stamp and Phogat will have a chance to contend for the atomweight title currently held by Angela Lee.

“I will say nothing for now, but let’s go with the flow and I’ll surprise my fans,” Stamp quipped.

ONE: Winter Warriors will be streaming live on the ONE Super App and official ONE Championship YouTube channel for fans in Asia on December 3 at 8:30 PM.

Meanwhile, North American audiences can catch the entire card via B/R Live on December 3 at 7:30 AM.

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