The win over Cynthia Flores at The Inner Circle 20 on Friday at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok was exactly what Stamp Fairtex of Thailand needed.
It was a confirmation that her striking game is back where it needs to be. The former three-sport queen returned to the winning column via split decision after three rounds of action against the Mexican striker.
Stamp has already expressed her desire to return to MMA by the end of the year. However, the Thai fan-favorite admitted she’s still not ready for an immediate MMA world title shot.
Speaking to Muay Thai Around The World, Stamp was clear-eyed about where she stands:
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“I feel I need to stay active. I need one or two more fights before I challenge for the MMA title. I can fight in MMA, but I shouldn’t go for the title yet. I’m not ready for MMA right now. I haven’t been practicing MMA. I’ve been training in Muay Thai because that’s what was scheduled.”
Watch the full interview:
Stamp relinquished the ONE women’s atomweight MMA world title last year after a meniscus injury prevented her from defending it. Since then, she has been rebuilding through the striking disciplines, navigating her way back at her own pace.
Stamp Fairtex admits she wasn’t at her best against Cynthia Flores
Stamp Fairtex’s razor-close victory was admittedly too close for comfort.
The 28-year-old was thrown off due to some circumstances beyond her control.
“I won’t blame it on the fact that it’s my second fight back, but my body just didn’t feel right,” Stamp said in the interview. “I lost focus; it wasn’t sharp. My trainer wasn’t in my corner, so my focus was off.
“They didn’t even tell me; he just disappeared, and they put someone else in. It definitely affected the game. It affected it a lot.”
The Inner Circle replay is available for Inner Circle Superfan Club members at live.onefc.com.
Edited by Joseph Schiefelbein