- Stamp will take on Kana at ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri
- Stamp Fairtex once held ONE World Titles across three different disciplines
- Kana Morimoto is a former K-1 flyweight champion
For an athlete who once held ONE World Titles across three different martial arts disciplines, Thai megastar Stamp Fairtex finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she prepares for her highly anticipated return to action.
Stamp will make her walk back to the Circle to face former K-1 Flyweight Champion Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto in a three-round atomweight kickboxing bout at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, which will broadcast live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, November 16.
After suffering a knee injury, the three-sport queen spent nearly two years on the sidelines, watching intently as the MMA division she once ruled continued to evolve without her.
As the former ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion makes her way back to the world’s largest martial arts organization under kickboxing rules, Stamp is approaching her comeback fight with remarkable honesty.
She said:
“I’m excited! It’ll be a good occasion for me since it’ll be my birthday. And I really want to go back to Japan. [Kana] has exceptional speed, [she’s] a fast and confident striker. This will be a chance to prove myself, whether I can make a comeback or not.”
The vulnerability in that admission reveals a fighter who has been humbled by circumstances beyond her control.
Where Stamp once dominated with the confidence of an athlete who had conquered every challenge placed before her, she now faces the uncertainty that comes with recovering from a career-threatening injury.
Instead of focusing on victory, she’s treating this as an evaluation of whether she can continue operating at the highest level.
Stamp continued:
“It’s been a long time since I last fought. It’s difficult to predict anything from both her and my side. I’m not pressuring myself to win. I just want to know if I’m recovered enough to continue on this path. Also, I want to see how nervous I’d get after such a long time.”
Kana Sees Historic Opportunity Against Returning Icon
Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto sees only the chance of a lifetime standing before her when she faces off with Stamp Fairtex at ONE 173.
The Japanese veteran knows that defeating such a high-caliber opponent would instantly re-establish her as a legitimate World Title contender and announce her arrival as a force in ONE’s women’s divisions.
If “Krusher Queen” can pull out a victory against the Thai icon, it would catapult her stock to unprecedented heights and push her toward global superstardom. Kana’s respect for Stamp is evident, but so is her confidence in her own ability to capitalize on this rare opportunity.
The Japanese star said:
“When you think of women’s martial arts in ONE, you think of Stamp. She’s iconic, the only athlete, male or female, to win World Titles in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA. She can do it all.”
The 33-year-old Japanese striking ace understands exactly what defeating Stamp would mean for her career in ONE. Having previously dominated the K-1 scene for years, Kana has the credentials to compete with anyone in the world.
However, her transition to the promotion has proven more challenging than expected.
After suffering a setback to ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Queen” Phetjeeja in her most recent outing — in front of her hometown fans no less — Kana is hungry to prove that her previous success wasn’t a fluke.
The loss at her last appearance on Japanese soil continues to motivate her preparation, and she’s determined to deliver a performance that will erase any doubts about her ability to compete at ONE’s elite level.
Kana concluded:
“My fight with Phetjeeja changed me. Stamp loves to trade, and I’m ready to stand and bang with her. I’ll be looking for the knockout. Losing at the last Japan event still eats at me. That’s why this fight means so much.
“I want to show everyone who supports me what it looks like to win here. It’s also a chance to push women’s martial arts in Japan to new heights. This is a defining moment for me as Kana the fighter. For women in ONE, it’s the start of a new phase.”
