ONE Championship: Ham Seo Hee suggests Zamboanga is ducking trilogy as row erupts over interim title

Ham Seo Hee has suggested Denice Zamboanga is ducking a trilogy fight with her in ONE Championship, after a war or words erupted on social media between the pair.
Zamboanga was set to face Ukraine’s Alyona Rassohyna for the interim atomweight interim MMA title in the co-main event of next week’s ONE Fight Night 25 card at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, with the divisional queen Stamp Fairtex out injured following knee surgery.
Filipino “Menace” Zamboanga eventually pulled out, but South Korean MMA veteran Ham sparked a row on Monday by claiming a fight between Zamboanga and Rassohyuna “didn’t make sense” – given she herself is ranked as the No 1 contender in the division.
“I respect Ham Seo Hee, but it feels like she’s dismissing the struggles I’ve had to face to get here,” Zamboanga said in response to the former title challenger’s comments, in an interview with Tiebreaker Times.
“She’s already had her chance. It’s time for others in the division to step up. It’s time to give others the chance to prove themselves worthy of the title.
“In this way, the division can truly move forward.”
Zamboanga’s words did not go down well with Ham, who was defeated by Stamp a year ago via third-round TKO, with the vacant title on the line at Singapore Indoor Stadium. 
“Denice doesn’t seem to want a third fight with me,” Ham told the Bangkok Post, when Zamboanga’s comments were put to her.
The 37-year-old had earlier questioned ONE’s matchmaking in pitting Zamboanga against Rassohyna – both of whom she has beaten in her career.
“I’ve received news about Denice and Alyona fighting for the interim world championship through media sources,” Ham wrote.
“I’m the No 1-ranked atomweight in ONE Championship, I beat Denice twice and also beat Alyona outside of ONE. Both are fighters who lost to me.
“I thought it didn’t make sense for them to fight for the interim belt when I’m ready and waiting. I’ve been waiting for an offer for a long time.
“As long as I have enough time to train, I will accept any offer and fight against anyone. I believe that ONE Championship will make the right and fair decision.”
Former UFC star Ham defeated Zamboanga, 27, on her ONE debut in a controversial split decision that was reviewed by the Asia-based martial arts promotion in September 2021. 
Ham shrugged off the criticism to comfortably defeat Zamboanga by unanimous decision six months later in a rematch at ONE X, the organisation’s 10th anniversary spectacular.  [Article ends]