Stamp Fairtex eyes return to action by end of 2025 following knee injury setback
Thai striking sensation Stamp Fairtex has provided an encouraging update on her recovery timeline, revealing she hopes to compete again before the year concludes.
The former three-division champion hasn’t been in action since she claimed the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title in September 2023. Stamp secured the crown with a third-round knockout of #3-ranked women’s atomweight MMA contender Ham Seo Hee at ONE Fight Night 14 inside Singapore Indoor Stadium.
A severe knee injury derailed her planned title defence at ONE 167, forcing the 27-year-old into an extended rehabilitation period that has kept her away from competition for nearly two years.
Initially scheduled to return during the summer months, Stamp encountered setbacks in her recovery process that pushed back her comeback timeline. However, the Thai star remains optimistic about stepping back into the Circle within the next six months.
“I think I’m gonna use this next two months – this month and next month – to look at my knee first because right now it’s full rehab,” Stamp explained to Bangkok Post’s Nick Atkin.
“So I want to know how my knee is. If it’s better, I can schedule. But I think this year, I can fight. I think in six months I can. But it’s up to my knee also. I’m really hungry to fight already.”
The prolonged absence eventually led Stamp to vacate her atomweight MMA crown, with longtime rival Denice Zamboanga subsequently claiming the vacant title. Despite the disappointment of relinquishing the belt without defending it, Stamp views the decision as temporary.
The former champion admits surrendering the gold proved emotionally challenging after working so hard to capture it. Nevertheless, she remains determined to reclaim what she considers rightfully hers once fully recovered.
“My emotions were very not okay because I felt like I trained really hard, fought really hard, to get the belt, and now, I easily gave it to her,” Stamp reflected.
“It’s better if I give my belt to her because everyone wants the belt, and everyone wants to be the champion. So, I just gave my belt first, and if everything is 100 per cent, I will fight with her again.”
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