Are You Ready For A Brand New Stamp Dance?

Despite two World Title wins in her first two ONE Super Series bouts, Stamp Fairtex has earned almost as much attention for her dance moves as her ability in the ring.

The 21-year-old Thai became a superstar overnight in her ONE Championship debut when she won the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Title.

As brilliant as she was during her striking exchanges with Kai Ting Chuang, many of the most memorable memes and videos shared on social media focused on her smooth moves on her way to the ring and between rounds.

When the Fairtex Gym representative returned to capture the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title in February, she emerged with a new and improved walkout that showed off even more of her repertoire.

On Saturday, 15 June, when Stamp will defend her Muay Thai belt for the first time at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST against Alma Juniku, the crowd can expect fireworks from the first bell. They can also expect a brand new Stamp Dance as she makes her grand entrance into the Baoshan Arena.

These special ring walks are now a trademark of the Pattaya resident, but she admits that was never part of her plan.

“The first time, there was a live band that walked out with me. The song was just so much fun, I couldn’t resist dancing,” she explains.

“It was the same between rounds, the music just compelled me to dance! I ended up getting a lot of positive exposure from it.”

In her most recent performance that saw her make history as ONE’s first ever two-sport World Champion, fans were treated to the new, improved, and choreographed Stamp Dance as she came out to K-pop group Blackpink’s smash hit, Boombayah.

“For my last fight, I practiced my routine ahead of time. I picked out my song, and watched videos on YouTube,” says Stamp.

“I picked a song that was fun, current, and really easy to dance to. I wanted something that would appeal to a lot of people. It is about creating something for the fans. I want it to be fun for people watching, and also to do it as a stress release. It is great to have my friends involved, too.”

The Muay Thai specialist, who has competed since she was a child, sees her dancing as more than a way to just fire up the crowd.

In The Home Of Martial Arts, Stamp does not have all of the elements of a traditional Muay Thai bout like she was used to in her homeland, so she finds a way to make up for that.

“In Muay Thai, you always perform the wai kru, which helps stretch out your muscles a bit and warm up. In ONE, we don’t have that, so dancing is a way for me to warm up and stretch out,” she laughs.

Her playful spirit comes alive in the gym, too. Although she knows when to put in hard work, and she is respectful to her training partners and coaches, no athlete likes to break up practice sessions like Stamp.

The 21-year-old is known as the most joyful and enthusiastic member of the team that includes ONE superstars like Yodsanklai, Saemapetch, and Andrew Miller – who will also compete in Shanghai – and she cannot help but inject a bit of levity between rounds in Pattaya.

“I’m not an overly serious person. I like to have fun!” she adds.

Naturally, most of the Rayong native’s efforts in the past few weeks have gone into intense rounds of pad work, drills, and sparring as she prepares to make her first ever World Title defense against Juniku, but that does not mean fans cannot expect another show before the bout begins.

The practice has also begun on her next walkout, and while she is tight-lipped about what she has planned, fans can rest assured that the Stamp Dance will return in spectacular fashion.

“It is going to be a surprise, but I can guarantee it will be a new song,” she says.

“I do it for the fans, and it is my thing now too. It is part of my identity as a fighter. It is a big stage, and the walkout is important. You have to practice because I don’t want to make a mistake or slip.

“The whole atmosphere at ONE is exciting. There are so many people there, and it isn’t just about the walkout but the fight and the crowd’s reaction also.”