Denice Zamboanga took her record to 8-0 with a first round submission victory over Watsyapinya Kaewkhong in Bangkok tonight. The #1 atomweight contender was back in action after a six month break at ONE: ‘A New Breed’.
Zamboanga has seen the Covid-19 pandemic stifle her chance of a title shot against Angela Lee but she retained her status as the top contender by scoring a submission win at the expense an inexperienced opponent.
Kaewkhong was making her debut and found herself outclassed by Zamboanga in all areas. The Filipina, whose last bout was a win against Mei Yamaguchi at ONE: ‘King of the Jungle’ in February, looked supremely confident from the outset as she landed two clean straight rights.
Slick combinations
With the round still in its infancy she continued to let her hands go, throwing slick combinations before dishing out some solid knees in the clinch. Enjoying a significant height advantage Zamboanga soon shot for the double leg.
She took her opponent down with ease. From side control she proceeded to put the cherry on top of a dominant display, executing the Americana and racking up the third submission victory of her career.
Zamboanga moves up to 8-0. Her opponent drops to 0-1.
Perfect night
Older brother Drex Zamboanga ensured it was a perfect night for the family as he made a winning start to his ONE Championship career. A veteran of Shooto and URCC, he scored a submission win in the dying seconds of the second round against Detchadin Sorsirisuphathin.
The 31-year-old showed great combinations, fast hands and used his reach advantage to excellent effect against his Thai opponent. Having gotten the better of the exchanges on the feet, Zamboanga transitioned from a clinch position to score a double leg in the corner.
With the clock running down, the Filipino took the Thai fighter’s back before sinking in the choke and putting him to sleep. Zamboanga improves to 9-5 while Detchadin drops to 8-6.
Savage kicks
The night had begun with a classic striker vs grappler match-up, as Yodkaikaew Fairtex finished Alex Schild via third round TKO.
Coming into this fight on the back of a knockout win at ONE: ‘No Surrender’ Part II, Yodkaikaew showcased some truly savage leg kicks in the second round, flooring Schild on multiple occasions, only to let him get up time and again to suffer the same punishment.
With Schild’s calves and shins taking an absolute battering, he somehow saw the end of the round. Early in the third round Yodkaikaew returned to the task.
The kicks kept coming, but instead of letting his opponent back up he continued to throw, throwing a token punch and finishing with four devastating kicks to the legs until the referee had seen enough.
The TKO victory takes Yodkaikaew’s record to 6-2-1 while Schild falls to 5-4-0.
Best of the rest
Elsewhere there was glory for Rodlek PKSaenchaigym as he put on a hugely impressive display against Kulabdam Sorjorpiekuthai to win the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai Grand Prix. He outpunched his fellow Thai, dropping him twice and taking the decision win.
There was also a major shock in store for Stamp Fairtex as she lost her second world title in six months. Having lost her atomweight kickboxing strap in February to Janet Todd, she relinquished her atomweight Muay Thai title to Allycia Rodrigues.
The Brazilian was the more potent fighter on the night, and her aggressive use of teeps, big right hands and elbows was enough to impress the judges and land her the belt with the victory coming via majority decision.
ONE: ‘A New Breed’, Bangkok, August 28th
Muay Thai: Stamp Fairtex def. Allycia Rodrigues via Decision (Unanimous) (For Atomweight Title)
Muay Thai: Rodlek PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym def. Kulabdam SorJorPiekUthai (Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Final) via Decision (Unanimous)
Denice Zamboanga def. Watsapinya Kaewkhong via Submission (Keylock) at 1:27 of round one
Muay Thai: Wondergirl Fairtex defeats KC Carlos via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 1:06 of round two
Drex Zamboanga defeats Detchadin Sornsirisuphathin via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:58 of round two
Muay Thai: Sok Thy defeats Huang Ding via KO (Punch) at 2:52 of round one
Yodkaikaew Fairtex defeats Alex Schild via TKO (Low Kicks) at 1:21 of round three
