- Denice Zamboanga of the Philippines will defend her World Title against Japan's Ayaka Miura
- The ONE Women's Atomweight MMA title showdown is part of ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri fight card
- This keenly anticipated world title fight will happen inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on November 16, 2025
The ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship is the most valuable prize in women’s mixed martial arts, and there are three superstars who have held the coveted gold and left an indelible mark on the division.
The journey of this prestigious crown has been marked by historic moments and unforgettable battles that have captivated fans worldwide.
From a teenage prodigy who rewrote the record books to a three-sport icon who transcended disciplines, and finally to the Philippines’ first-ever female MMA World Champion, these world-class heroes have created a legacy that continues to inspire the next generation of female athletes.
Before Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga defends her throne against Ayaka “Zombie” Miura at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri in Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on November 16, we examine the complete history of the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title and the extraordinary athletes who have worn the crown.
Inaugural Queen Angela Lee Makes History As Youngest Ever World Champion
The journey of the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship began with a teenager who would redefine what was possible in combat sports.
“Unstoppable” Angela Lee made history when she captured the inaugural World Title with a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi at ONE: Ascent To Power in May 2016 to become the youngest-ever MMA World Champion at only 19 years and 10 months old.
Lee’s performance against the Japanese veteran displayed the well-rounded skill set that would define her reign, as she demonstrated superior grappling and impeccable striking.
However, the Singaporean-American phenom’s time at the top was anything but easy, and it required her to consistently prove that she possessed the skills and poise beyond her years.
After winning the gold, “Unstoppable” dominated her first three defenses as the divisional queen, even battling through pneumonia to submit Istela Nunes in 2017.
In her rematch against Yamaguchi a year later, the Evolve MMA representative dished out another masterclass to overcome her rival on the scorecards.
In 2019, Lee pursued two-division dominance when she moved up a weight class to challenge ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan, although she was unsuccessful in her bid.
“Unstoppable” would rematch the Chinese MMA icon months later, this time successfully defending her atomweight belt with a rear-naked choke to even her series with Xiong at ONE: Century Part I.
Lee’s reign then came to a symbolic end at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023, when top contenders Stamp Fairtex and Ham Seo Hee battled for divisional supremacy.
In a touching passing-of-the-torch moment, “Unstoppable” announced her retirement from professional competition during the event’s live broadcast, personally crowning Stamp as the undisputed ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion.
The Evolve MMA athlete retired with an 11-3 record, including four World Title defenses, closing the chapter on one of the most remarkable championship reigns in MMA history.
Stamp Defeats Ham To Become A Three-Sport Icon
When Stamp Fairtex first stepped into the Circle as a pure striker, few could have predicted that the Thai superstar would eventually become the most accomplished multi-sport athlete in ONE Championship history.
After establishing herself as the ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, the Fairtex Training Center affiliate decided to test herself in the MMA realm.
The transition proved remarkably successful, as she quickly built a solid reputation with her aggressive style and constantly improving grappling skills.
Her breakthrough moment came when she claimed the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Grand Prix Championship by submitting wrestling sensation Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat in the final round at ONE: Winter Warriors in December 2021.
Stamp not only earned the tournament’s coveted silver belt, but she booked herself a ticket to challenge Angela Lee for the throne – a fight that took place at ONE X in March 2022.
Despite a valiant effort, Stamp suffered a submission defeat to “Unstoppable,” but the setback proved to be merely a temporary obstacle for the fighting pride of Thailand.
She bounced back with a convincing unanimous decision victory over Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan just a few months later. Then, at ONE Fight Night 10, the organization’s first-ever event on North American soil, Stamp folded local favorite Alyse “Lil’ Savage” Anderson with a devastating body kick to earn another crack at the coveted gold.
Stamp’s moment of destiny arrived at ONE Fight Night 14 in September 2023 against Ham Seo Hee in Singapore.
The Fairtex product seized the moment with another highlight-reel finish, starching the South Korean veteran with a brilliant striking display to officially become the first and only three-sport World Champion in ONE.
However, Stamp’s reign would prove to be brief, as a knee injury forced her to relinquish the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship, paving the way for a new queen to emerge.
Zamboanga Secures Gold To Make History As First-Ever Filipina MMA World Champion
For Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga, capturing the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship represented the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and unwavering belief.
The Filipina warrior had come tantalizingly close to vying for the crown on multiple occasions, but her World Title aspirations never quite materialized. Still, Zamboanga continued to persevere, winning fight after fight until she finally reached the pinnacle of her quest.
Following a two-fight skid to Ham Seo Hee, “The Menace” embarked on an impressive four-fight winning streak that kicked off with a hard-earned split decision victory over “MMA Sister” Lin Heqin at ONE on Prime Video 5 in December 2022.
She followed that up with a dominant display against Julie Mezabarba at ONE Fight Night 9 the following year, displaying a more well-rounded approach against the Brazilian veteran.
Another unanimous decision victory over Noelle Grandjean at ONE 167 further solidified “The Menace’s” position as a legitimate contender, setting up her long-awaited opportunity to compete for World Championship gold.
The moment finally arrived at ONE Fight Night 27 this past January, when Zamboanga faced Ukrainian veteran Alyona Rassohyna for the interim atomweight MMA crown.
She capitalized on her opportunity inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, delivering a devastating second-round TKO to capture the interim belt, making her the Philippines’ first-ever female MMA World Champion.
Zamboanga has since been elevated to undisputed titleholder after Stamp Fairtex relinquished the crown earlier this year, and she hopes to hang on to her prized possession when all is said and done at ONE 173 inside Ariake Arena on Sunday, November 16.
