Former three-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex has revealed her reasoning for choosing kickboxing over mixed martial arts for her highly anticipated comeback against four-time K-1 Champion Kana Morimoto at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 27-year-old Thai superstar will make her first appearance in over two years following a knee surgery that forced her to relinquish the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title in May. Stamp explained that it was important to test herself in a three-round atomweight kickboxing bout before returning to MMA competition.
Stamp Fairtex Views Morimoto as Perfect Comeback Challenge
The former atomweight kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA champion explained her rationale for accepting this specific matchup, emphasizing Morimoto’s elite status in Japanese kickboxing. Stamp Fairtex believes facing top-level competition provides the best pathway forward regardless of the outcome.
“The reason I accepted the fight with Kana is that I feel she is the best in kickboxing in Tokyo, in Japan. I feel it’s a challenge. Whether I win or lose, there’s no harm in fighting her. I feel that fighting someone great is always a good thing,” Stamp Fairtex offered.
The 33-year-old Morimoto brings a 23-6 career record and four K-1 titles into this ONE Championship bout. The Japanese striker captured her first promotional victory against Moa Carlsson in January 2025, establishing herself as a legitimate threat in the atomweight kickboxing division.
Kickboxing Provides Strategic Warm-Up for Stamp Fairtex’s MMA Return
The Fairtex Training Center representative provided a detailed explanation for choosing kickboxing over immediately returning to MMA competition, citing the need to gradually rebuild her physical conditioning and mental sharpness after an extensive rehabilitation period. Stamp’s methodical approach demonstrates the strategic thinking that originally paved her way to the gold.
“I decided to go for kickboxing before MMA because I wanted to warm up my body first. I’ve been away for two years, and the muscle I lost after the surgery is all gone. I need to see how things go. I want to check my mental state, my physical condition, and if my endurance is still there. I want to see how this fight goes, and then move on to MMA,” Stamp said.
The Thai champion’s 14 ONE Championship victories include her most recent triumph, a third-round TKO over Ham Seo Hee in September 2023 that earned her the vacant atomweight MMA crown. The four-bout winning streak was interrupted by the knee injury that required surgical intervention and extensive recovery time.
Thai Megastar Stamp Fairtex Determined to Prove Elite Status Remains
Despite the lengthy layoff and physical challenges of returning from major surgery, Stamp is determined to prove that she is still an elite competitor who is fully capable of defeating world-class opposition. The former three-sport queen refuses to serve as a stepping stone for anyone’s career progression.
“What I want to show in this fight is that I’m still here. I’m not just a stepping stone for you to cross over. If you want to get past me, it’s going to be tough. I will try to show what I have, I will give it my best, and I will show everyone what Stamp Fairtex is all about,” she said.
This clash goes down at ONE 173, taking place on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
