KEY POINTS
- Stamp Fairtex earned her purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the guidance of Jason Burnworth
- Her improved ground game gave atomweight champ Angela Lee a run for her money last March
- Stamp's next opponent could be Jihin Radzuan, Jenelyn Olsim or Denice Zamboanga
Stamp Fairtex has already achieved so much in her young combat sports career, but becoming a more well-rounded fighter has always been on her to-do list.
This past week, Stamp was recently promoted to a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) by Jason âSparkplugâ Burnworth.
As Burnworth noted, Stamp was his first student at the Fairtex Training Center over five years ago and has been developing her craft in the past three years as a blue belt.
The ONE Womenâs Atomweight Grand Prix Tournament winner has been working her way up the rankings of the division prior to the event, earning her first submission victory in the sport against Asha Roka with a rear-naked choke in 2019.
Her feats in the mini-tournament also include a hard-fought victory against Alyona Rassohyna in their rematch, a strong striking performance against Julie Mezabarba, and an improbable submission victory over Indian wrestler Ritu Phogat via armbar in the finals to earn the right to face division queen Angela Lee.
Lee and Stamp met in the main event of the promotionâs 10th-anniversary celebration on March 26, where mixed martial arts (MMA) fans saw Stampâs vastly-improved ground game.
The champion tried her hardest to put away Stamp in the second round after almost being stopped herself with a liver shot in the opening frame.
Leeâs attempts at submitting Stamp included an arm triangle, a conventional triangle choke, a kimura lock, an armbar, and her rare twister.
But in the end, Stampâs gas tank simply ran out as Lee took control of her back and locked in the rear-naked choke to force a tap with just 10 seconds left in the round.
It was a brilliant showcase of grappling from the former Muay Thai and kickboxing champion, which has left fans wondering what her next step will be and who she will face next.
The No. 1-ranked atomweight can possibly face Jihin Radzuan, Jenelyn Olsim or Denice Zamboanga next.
It is worth noting that Stamp and Zamboanga have previously expressed a desire to face one another despite being close friends in the name of competition.
As Stamp continues to develop her skills on the mat, it may only be a matter of time before MMA fans see her secure a rematch with Lee for the atomweight title and possibly score an upset when they meet again.
