Stamp Fairtex Has A Simple Plan To Beat Puja Tomar In Bangkok
Stamp Fairtex will kick off the new year by continuing her quest for three-sport ONE World Title gold on Friday, 10 January.
The 22-year-old returns to mixed martial arts competition at ONE: A NEW TOMORROW, where she is scheduled to face Indian Wushu Champion Puja “The Cyclone” Tomar.
Stamp, who is the reigning ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, is carrying a tremendous amount of momentum into the contest.
The lifelong striker closed 2019 with a pair of big mixed martial arts victories over the previously-undefeated Asha “Knockout Queen” Roka and Vietnamese-American star Bi “Killer Bee” Nguyen.
This upcoming bout against Tomar from the Impact Arena in her native Bangkok, Thailand presents a chance to show fans the strides she has been making as a mixed martial artist.
“I think I’m improving as a mixed martial artist, in some areas more than others,” she offers.
“I feel good in training, but I don’t have enough experience yet. This fight will give me the opportunity to test and develop my skills.”
Tomar, however, represents the most dangerous threat to her spotless record in the sport.
A decorated wushu practitioner in her native India, the 26-year-old Muzaffarnagar resident made the transition to mixed martial arts in October 2013.
Despite facing stiff competition since joining ONE Championship, “The Cyclone” earned the biggest victory of her career when she defeated Indonesian contender Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol this past January.
Aside from that recent confidence boost, Tomar possesses more competition experience in mixed martial arts than Stamp and is more versed in the grappling arts. All of those factors could play a key role in the Thai athlete’s upcoming challenge.
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“I never underestimate my opponents,” the two-sport ONE World Champion offers.
“Puja is a wushu champion, so she’ll have good takedowns. She is unpredictable, and she keeps a fast pace and stays active.
“My opponent knows stand-up is my strong point, and she is probably thinking about taking me down, so I’m working on both my submission and takedown defense.
“My plan is simple — keep the fight standing, use my Muay Thai, and defend takedowns. If I go to the ground, I’ll figure it out then and there. I’m confident in my ground game, and I know I am very strong.”
Stamp displayed some of that ground game in her mixed martial arts debut for the promotion when she challenged Tomar’s compatriot, Roka, at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD in August.
The Thai landed numerous takedowns, and she fished for various submissions including armbars and a guillotine choke before finally forcing “Knockout Queen” to tap via rear-naked choke in the third stanza.
Conversely, in her bout with Nguyen at ONE: MASTERS OF FATE in November, she displayed the type of stand-up arsenal that led her to both the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Titles.
The Fairtex representative battered “Killer Bee” with her counter-striking, knees from the clinch, and powerful kicks and punches to earn a unanimous decision.
If Stamp can continue to showcase her evolution and beat Tomar, then she will move closer to a showdown with the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion.
“This is an important fight for me. Plus, this is an opportunity for me to improve as a mixed martial artist,” the Thai superstar explains. “Angela Lee is the champion. A chance to fight her really is a win-win situation for me.”
Also, Stamp is extra motivated because she will be competing in her home country for an audience full of her fans, her friends, and her family members.
The Fairtex representative does not want to disappoint her compatriots and loved ones, and she promises to claim the victory in style.
“I love fighting in Thailand. My parents and family will come to watch, and I’ll have a big cheering section there for me,” she adds.
“I have to win, but how? I don’t know. It depends on how the fight plays out.”
Read more: Stamp Fairtex’s 2019: A Year Of History, Challenges, And Love
