5 Reasons Why Ham Seo Hee Can Continue Her Dominant Run In 2023
South Korean MMA star Ham Seo Hee has started her rise up the ranks in ONE Championship’s women’s atomweight division, and the endgame is clearly World Title gold.
Ham, the division’s #2-ranked contender, can inch her way closer to the top spot when she takes on burgeoning Japanese phenom Itsuki Hirata at ONE Fight Night 8 on Friday, March 24.
Hirata is one of the most highly touted young athletes in the promotion, but “Hamzzang” is a decorated veteran who will bring all of her skills and experience to their clash at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
With that in mind, here are five reasons why Ham could continue her dominant run in 2023 – starting with a win in “The Lion City.”
#1 She’s On An Eight-Fight Winning Streak
Ham is in the midst of an incredible eight-fight winning streak that stretches back to 2017.
The Team MAD representative’s last defeat came via split decision at strawweight in 2016, but since then, she has been on fire.
In her more natural atomweight division, “Hamzzang” competed in South Korea and Japan, where she decimated some of Asia’s top MMA fighters and claimed a pair of regional titles in the process.
#2 She’s Unbeaten In ONE
Ham’s latest two career victories have come in ONE, and the South Korean has looked increasingly confident with each outing.
She edged out Denice Zamboanga in a close promotional debut in September 2021, but when the pair met for their rematch in March 2022, “Hamzzang” dominated her rival and proved that she was more comfortable inside the Circle.
Although she has missed out on a couple of scheduled battles – including her originally slated matchup with Hirata last November, which was canceled when the Japanese grappler failed to make weight – Ham should still feel relaxed when it’s time to get back to action.
#3 She Has Lethal Striking
With a reputation as a relentless striker, Ham has always thrived in a toe-to-toe stand-up battle.
The South Korean star is happy to trade punches, and she has strong offensive and defensive skills, too. Also, she’s found her finishing power in recent times.
Up until her current streak, “Hamzzang” had only scored a handful of finishes, all by submission. However, in her last eight wins, she has amassed four knockouts to prove that her power must be respected.
#4 She Is Hard To Finish
In her 33-bout career, Ham has only been stopped three times – and not since way back in 2011.
The South Korean has formidable submission defense and a sturdy chin that can absorb shots with ease when she wades forward to attack her opponents.
Her only TKO defeat came via a back injury, and she was still in the early stages of her career when she was forced to tap out by much more experienced opponents, so the chances of her ONE rivals dispatching her inside the distance look slim.
#5 She’s Seen It All
Ham kicked off her professional career in 2007, and through 33 MMA bouts against some of the best female fighters in the world, there isn’t much she hasn’t seen.
Hirata and future rivals would have to bring something unique to the Circle to shock the 35-year-old striker, but it’s unlikely she will get fazed by anything.
As one of the most experienced and skilled athletes in ONE’s women’s divisions, “Hamzzang” will always carry that veteran expertise into battle.
