ONE Championship has officially announced its return to Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, for ONE 173 on Friday, August 1. The marquee event will feature a high-stakes title unification bout between reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex and interim champion Denice Zamboanga.
Stamp Fairtex Defends Undisputed Gold
Stamp Fairtex, the first three-sport World Champion in ONE history, returns to the U.S. after her spectacular knockout win over Alyse Anderson at ONE Fight Night 10. The Thai superstar captured the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship by defeating Ham Seo Hee at ONE Fight Night 14, and ONE 173 will mark her first title defense.
“I’m so happy to be going back to the U.S. again,” said Stamp. “I was supposed to face Denice last year, but unfortunately, I got injured. Now, we finally get to fight for the belt. I was blown away by the support I received from my U.S. fans at ONE Fight Night 10, and I can’t wait to put on a show for them again this August.”
Denice Zamboanga’s Shot at Undisputed Glory
Denice Zamboanga, one of the Philippines’ top MMA stars, earned the Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title with a knockout victory over Alyona Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 27. Now, she faces the challenge of taking on a friend-turned-rival in Stamp Fairtex to become the division’s undisputed champion.
“This upcoming fight against Stamp in the United States is a dream come true for me,” said Zamboanga. “It’s not just a personal milestone but a significant moment for the Philippines. Representing my country on such a grand stage fills me with immense pride. I am ready to give my all and bring honor to our nation.”
ONE’s Growing Presence in North America
ONE Championship first debuted in the U.S. at 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado, in May 2023. That success led to another blockbuster event at Ball Arena in September 2024, where ONE 168 drew over 10,000 fans and generated an $18 million economic impact for Denver.
“I am thrilled to announce that ONE Championship will be back at Ball Arena this August with one of our biggest events of the year,” said Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship. “Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga, former training partners and now rivals, will step inside the Circle to unify the Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship in a fight the entire world is waiting for.”
What to Expect at ONE 173
The unification bout between Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga is just the first blockbuster fight on the ONE 173 fight card, with more matchups set to be announced in the coming weeks.
With ONE Championship expanding its presence in North America, the Denver event is expected to draw another sold-out crowd as the organization continues to deliver world-class martial arts action.
