Denice Zamboanga is training with two of the most important people in her life, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “The Menace” will be in action this Friday, June 7, as she takes on Noelle “Li’l Monkey” Grandjean in an atomweight MMA bout at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Originally slated to challenge for the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship, Zamboanga had a late opponent change after divisional queen Stamp Fairtex was ruled out due to injury.

Denice Zamboanga trains with her brother and fiance

Regardless of who she faces, the Filipina is glad she has her brother, bantamweight MMA contender Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga, by her side. “Having him in my corner is such a huge thing for me. Ever since I started fighting, I’ve been with my big brother. Now, being in this position as I gun for bigger goals, it’s a blessing to still have him beside me. It gives me a different kind of confidence,” she told ONE in a recent interview.

Zamboanga started her journey in ONE as part of the famed Fairtex Training Center, where she trained with Stamp and Grandjean, among others. Later, she moved to Marrok Force before linking up with her brother in their home country of the Philippines.

Along with her sibling, the 27-year-old is also working with her fiancee, ONE Friday Fights flyweight MMA fixture Fritz “Kid Tornado” Biagtan. However, their interactions during training are far from romantic.

Balancing training and personal life Zamboanga’s winning strategy

She gave us an insight into how things are working out for her, “Me and Fritz, we really go at it during training sessions. It’s like we’re not engaged here. It’s like we’re not partners at all. He’s strict when it comes to training. When he tells me I have to do this, I have no choice but to follow. But of course, we both let our guards down after training, and we’re back to being partners. We have that kind of switch,”

She further added, “There’s no such thing as romance during training sessions. We’re focused on getting better. We’re focused on the task at hand. I hit him hard, and I don’t hold back. I know he can take it. We take things seriously during training sessions, and all that personal stuff can wait after training.”

While she trained with elite stars during her time in Thailand, training with people she feels most comfortable with appears to have paid off. Zamboanga is currently riding a two-fight win streak, and she is confident that she’ll go three in a row against Grandjean this Friday – thanks to her brother and fiancee. “The connection that we’ve developed through the years is impeccable. They’re really looking out for me, and they only want the best for me,” she said.