Stamp Fairtex got the win, but she walked away from it more critical of herself than any judge at ringside could have been.

The former three-sport ONE World Champion outpointed Mexico’s Cynthia Flores by split decision in their atomweight Muay Thai clash at The Inner Circle 20 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 26, improving her striking record to 65-18. Flores came forward with relentless dirty boxing from the opening bell, and the fight grew increasingly competitive as the rounds wore on.

Stamp broke down exactly where her tools fell short on the night, despite respecting the danger Flores brought into the ring.

“She’s tough and really strong. But as for her power? Her kicks and strikes weren’t that heavy. Her punches, though, if they land clean, they definitely pack a punch,” she said.

“I actually looked for the head kick several times, but my legs just wouldn’t get up there that day. It just didn’t happen. It felt like I couldn’t pull the trigger on my kicks.”

She was candid about how the fight slipped away from her control in the closing round, and revealed an unexpected complication that had thrown off her preparation before the bell ever rang.

“I’m 100 percent confident I won the first round. The first was definitely mine. In the second round, I felt like I still had a slight edge over her. By the third round, though, I think I fought way too defensively and just tried to manage the game,” she said.

“I’m not going to use the excuse that this is only my second fight back. On top of that, I completely lost my focus. My mind was all over the place because my main trainer got sick and couldn’t be in my corner tonight. It really threw me off.”

The win did little to settle her own assessment of the performance. Stamp has built her career on a standard that a split-decision victory over a determined but unheralded opponent did not meet.

“I’m not happy with this fight at all. Seriously, I’m completely disappointed. Nobody’s happy with how it went, and neither am I,” she said.

“I know my performance tonight might not have lived up to everyone’s expectations, but I truly gave it everything I had out there.”

Looking ahead, Stamp remains focused on rebuilding toward MMA gold, the title she relinquished after a torn meniscus derailed her championship run. She is not rushing the timeline, and she has not closed the door on staying in Muay Thai a little longer first.

“I probably need another one or two fights. I’m down for MMA, but maybe let’s hold off on the title shot for now,” she said.

“But honestly, I wouldn’t mind doing Muay Thai again for my next fight. I can do Muay Thai or MMA.”

READ MORE: Nong-O Settles Kongthoranee Trilogy, Eyes Imangazaliev ONE World Title Rematch

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