Julie Mezabarba is poised for a breakout performance at ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs. Haggerty on Prime Video.
On Friday, April 21, the Brazilian star will face #3-ranked atomweight MMA contender Denice Zamboanga at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and the bout is destined to produce fireworks.
It’s a pivotal showdown that could instantly catapult Mezabarba into the divisional rankings, and she is certainly motivated to claim victory. But unlike other individuals who could be in her position, she doesn’t feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event.
Mezabarba kicked off her ONE Championship tenure with a stunning win over Japanese MMA icon Mei Yamaguchi in September 2021. But since then, she has dropped a pair of close decisions against top-flight competition, including ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Champion Stamp Fairtex.
Despite the bitter taste of those defeats, the 30-year-old knows that she belongs among the division’s elite, which is exactly why she isn’t stressed heading into her clash with Zamboanga.
The Brazilian told ONEFC.com:
“I don’t feel pressure ahead of my next fight. I don’t see myself like that because I know my potential. I don’t see myself with the rope around my neck because I’ve always given my best to the fans and the organization.”
Mezabarba’s self-assurance is rooted in her deep set of skills. And while she is a well-versed ground fighter with a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she tends to do her best work on the feet when exchanging strikes.
According to the RD Champions-trained athlete, she believes her punching power and precision will carry her to victory at ONE Fight Night 9.
She said:
“I have a lot of confidence in my boxing, and I predict that this will be the big difference in this fight. I will impose my game from start to finish, always looking for the best domain to come out with the victory.”
Julie Mezabarba Predicts ‘A Great Fight For The Fans’
Given their aggressive, attack-oriented styles, Julie Mezabarba is expecting a firefight when she squares off against Denice Zamboanga.
In fact, the Brazilian sees plenty of similarities between herself and her well-rounded Filipina opponent, who boasts a 9-2 career record with five thrilling victories inside the Circle.
Mezabarba said:
“She’s an experienced fighter, just like me. So, I think the danger in this fight is for both sides. Denice has good boxing and a good ground game too, but I see some gaps, especially in her striking.”
Mezabarba also respects her foe’s physical tools and willingness to engage. And she believes those are the right ingredients for an entertaining battle that fans won’t soon forget.
She added:
“Denice Zamboanga is a good athlete. She has a versatile game and fights forward, just like me. I think it was a great fight match and believe we will put on a great fight for the fans.”
