TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon believes ex-girlfriend Stamp Fairtex bound to win third belt in ONE
Change Size
Stamp Fairtex (left) and Angela Lee. (Tatler Asia)
R
odtang Jitmuangnon still has faith that Stamp Fairtex will be able to win a belt in mixed martial arts (MMA) in the future and make history as the first person to win world titles in three different disciplines.
Stamp, the former ONE atomweight Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion, fell short when she faced reigning atomweight queen Angela Lee in ONE X last month. Although she lost the biggest match of her MMA career, Rodtang believes that his former girlfriend will bounce back from the loss and return much more dangerous.
“Yes, I think she can [return and become an MMA world champion] if she has a decisive goal and keeps improving her skills and techniques,” Rodtang said.
“I think it shouldn’t be too hard for her, she’s a hard worker and determined, she proved that in the World Grand Prix.”
The Muay Thai icon noted that despite the massive experience advantage Lee has over Stamp in their matchup, Stamp had her moments in the fight. The Thai athlete had the champion on the ropes with her striking, though when it came to the grappling, Lee was worlds beyond the young fighter.
However, Rodtang sees Stamp’s performance as a good start for her young MMA career, and with work on her grappling and mixing all the techniques she learned, he believes that Stamp can be the next MMA queen.
“[In] the fight with Angela Lee, Stamp coped with what Angela threw at her well, any submission or MMA techniques,” the reigning Muay Thai champion said. “I think if she took her time and trained harder, she might take the belt from Angela.”
Rodtang believes that Stamp’s performance in ONE X is one she should be proud of, in spite of her loss. He believes that this loss will serve as an important lesson to the young Thai superstar in her future fights.
In viewing the match, Rodtang believes that Stamp lacked a key factor in her last performance, which is a killer instinct. Unlike him, who is relentless once he sees his opponent is hurt, Stamp let her opponent recover after she hit her with a solid liver punch.
Read also: 17-year-old world champion Smilla Sundell looks back at historic win
“Angela Lee was a tough opponent, she took a punch to the gut and was still on her feet,” Rodtang recalled. “Unfortunately, Stamp couldn’t utilize that moment. She couldn’t aim her weapons effectively and missed the opportunity so Angela survived.”
But, Rodtang believes that his teammate has plenty of time to further hone her skill to ensure that the belt will be coming with her next time she earns the chance to challenge for the World Title again.
“Let’s keep up the good work, we still have a long journey ahead. The goddess of victory did not smile upon us this time.”
Watch ONE 157 on May 20 in ONE Super App and subscribe to ONE Championship on YouTube!
This article is published in collaboration with ONE Championship
