2023 will begin with one of the most intriguing matchups of the year when ONE Championship hits the Impact Arena in Bangkok on Friday, January 13. Former two-sport World Champion Stamp Fairtex will meet Anissa Meksen in a mixed-rules superfight at ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov on Prime Video.
The meeting of the two global superstars will consist of four three-minute rounds alternating between Muay Thai and mixed martial arts rules. Although Stamp is an accomplished Muay Thai striker, her ground game has developed nicely since she transitioned into mixed martial arts. Stamp believes those skills will give her the edge in January.
“I believe I have practiced more than her and have more experience on the ground because I have only been focusing on MMA during the past two years. I definitely had more time to concentrate on MMA compared to [Meksen], who just started training in MMA after hearing the news about the super-fight” Stamp told ONE.
The two elite athletes have already exchanged words ahead of their highly-anticipated meeting. The trash talk has given Stamp more focus on taking out her opposition and making a statement when they meet on the huge platform. The motivated Thai star is adamant she will not shy away from Meksen’s notorious forward pressure.
“I think I can finish her in the MMA round because I think I’m better than her in MMA. She said her striking skill is better than mine. I want to ask her back, ‘Did you forget that I used to be Muay Thai World Champion?’ That means I will never let her bully me without a fight. Her words seems to ruin my reputation as Muay Thai World Champion. I can’t tell you which round, but I will definitely finish her by way of knockout or submission” said the former ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion.
Meksen has been on fire since arriving in ONE. The pound-for-pound talent is a perfect 3-0 inside the Circle. She has dominated Cristina Morales, Marie Ruumet and Dangkongfah Banchamek in kickboxing and Muay Thai bouts. If she can dispatch Fairtex, there will be no doubt where she stands as the premiere women’s striker on the planet.
And Fairtex understands the task at hand in the first three minutes. “C18’s” reputation preceded her in ONE, and she has only added to that with her brutal showings. But the former atomweight title contender believes she’ll have success and surprise her overconfident adversary.
“Anissa is really good and strong. Her build is [strong] and she has a lion’s heart. I admit that she is really talented. But I don’t like the way she disrespects me. No matter how good you are, you shouldn’t look down on your opponent” said Fairtex.
“She said she was better than me in everything because she is a fighter and I am a dancer. But if I can catch her in the Muay Thai clinch, she will definitely be doomed. She will never run away from my elbows in that clinch.”
After hearing all her trash talk, Fairtex is emphatic about wanting to shut her mouth. She believes that Meksen has crossed a line and will pay the price on January 13. And when Meksen is licking the wounds of her defeat, Faitex wants to be dancing in her line of sight to rub it in just a little bit more.
“She said I’m a dancer. So, my plan is that after I submit or knock her out, I’m going to dance right in front of her to show that she was just defeated by a dancer.”
ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov will air live and free on Prime Video at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Friday, January 13.
Photo courtesy of ONE Championship
