Denice Zamboanga will not get her shot at gold at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II on Friday, June 7. Stamp Fairtex edited the event due to injury, but the talented atomweight will still compete. “The Menace” will square off against Noelle Grandjean to send a resounding message to the Thai superstar.
Zamboanga, T-Rex MMA Pushing Elite Training Forward in the Philippines
But her journey goes beyond a search for ONE Championship gold. It is a true family affair at T-Rex MMA. Zamboanga trains with her brother, Drex, every day.
“Having him in my corner is such a huge thing for me. Ever since I started fighting, I’ve been with my big brother. Now being in this position as I gun for bigger goals, it’s a blessing to still have him beside me. It gives me a different kind of confidence,” the atomweight contender said to ONE.
The 27-year-old also gets to train alongside her fiancé, Fritz Biagtan. But they leave the romance between the two at the door. Zamboanga is adamant they keep things professional inside the walls of T-Rex MMA as they both chase their martial arts dreams.
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“Me and Fritz, we really go at it during training sessions. It’s like we’re not engaged here. It’s like we’re not partners at all. He’s strict when it comes to training. When he tells me I have to do this, I have no choice but to follow. But of course, we both let our guards down after training and we’re back to being partners. We have that kind of switch,” Zamboanga remarked.
Family ties play a considerable role in Zamboanga’s growth. Her comfort level at the gym has allowed her to grow and develop as a complete martial artist. She also knows that they both have her best interest at heart every step of the way.
“The connection that we’ve developed through the years is impeccable. They’re really looking out for me, and they only want the best for me,” the 27-year-old said.
T-Rex MMA is becoming another world-class landing spot for aspiring martial artists, and that is a point of pride for Zamboanga. She has trained with Stamp in Thailand in the past and has experienced what other gyms have to offer. Along with her brother and fiance, they have taken those lessons back to the Philippines to elevate the athletes back at home.
“Now that we’re here in the Philippines, I feel like we’ve brought the international level of training. What we picked up from there, the routine and the attitude that we’ve developed there, we’re still keeping it here in T-Rex MMA,” Zamboanga said.
The decision to make T-Rex MMA home was not the original plan. The intent was to return to Thailand, but after realizing they could implement their routines at home, it was an easy decision to stay. Now, they stand alongside other established names in the Philippines as elite gyms to carry the country’s hopes. Zamboanga’s title prospects are another beacon for everyone to admire.
“It’s not like we just decided to go home and say, ‘Let’s just move back to the Philippines for good.’ What happened is we went home, we just trained like we used to, and it sort of picked up from there. We realized we can do it. We can stand on our own. I look at other established gyms like Team Lakay or Lions Nation, and we’re thinking, if they can do it, T-Rex MMA can also do it,” Zamboanga expressed.
ONE 167 airs live on Friday, June 7, from the Impact Arena in Bangkok. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
