The semifinals for ONE Championship’s ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix are set, but not without a bit of change.
ONE Atomweight Grand Prix Altered
Following ONE: Empower, four women sent themselves to the next round of the biggest tournament in women’s mixed martial arts history with a grand prize earning them a title shot at Angela Lee’s ONE Atomweight World Championship.
Itsuki Hirata, Ritu Phogat, Seo Hee Ham, and Stamp Fairtex punched their tickets with exciting victories. It was a perfect beginning to the tournament as each contest thrilled audiences around the globe.
ONE then put the matchmaking duties in the hands of the fans with an online vote.
The results of the online voting put Seo Hee Ham up against Stamp Fairtex and Itsuki Hirata against Ritu Phogat. But one of those bouts will be altered before the semifinals take place on October 29 at ONE: Nextgen.
ONE announced that longtime standout Seo Hee Ham suffered an injury and will be replaced. Taking her spot will be Brazilian Julie Mezabarba.
Mezabarba earned her spot in an alternate bout at ONE: Empower with a dominant decision over former ONE Atomweight World Title challenger Mei Yamaguchi. In her last eight contests, the streaking Brazilian is unbeaten and now takes on Stamp in the crucial semifinal contest.
Now the semifinals are official, and the four remaining athletes are just two victories from getting a shot at the gold.
ONE: Nextgen airs on October 29 across all Bleacher Report platforms at 8:30 a.m. EST/5:30 a.m. PST.
