Seo Hee Ham: A Crown Jewel of Women’s MMA

Seo Hee Ham can only add to her legacy at this point.

The 36-year-old South Korean star will take on Stamp Fairtex for the interim One Championship women’s atomweight title in the ONE on Prime Video 14 headliner this Friday at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Ham enters the cage with a wealth of knowledge to draw upon, accumulated across a remarkable career that now spans more than 16 years. It may not be just another day at the office, but she clings to an approach that has served her well.

“I always consider and plan for all possible scenarios and factors, rather than what is particularly dangerous,” said Ham, a former Rizin Fighting Federation, Road Fighting Championship and Jewels titleholder. “Because the sport of MMA has many variables, you must always be ready for any situation.”

Ham rides into her main event assignment on a nine-fight winning streak that includes a perfect 3-0 mark under the ONE banner. While she prefers a busier schedule, she has competed somewhat sparingly since she signed with the Chatri Sityodtong-led organization in 2021. Ham last appeared at ONE Prime Video 8, where she outpointed Itsuki Hirata to a unanimous decision some six months ago.

“While waiting for the title match, I had already received a promise from Mr. Chatri, so I wasn’t worried or anxious about anything,” she said. “As someone who enjoys and loves this sport, I appreciate matches frequently. I hoped the intervals between matches would be shorter.”

Fairtex, meanwhile, quickly blossomed into one of the company’s brightest and most marketable young stars. The 25-year-old Rayong, Thailand, native has already struck gold in ONE’s muay thai and kickboxing branches, all while making a seamless transition to mixed martial arts. Fairtex has won five of her past six bouts in MMA, a submission defeat to incumbent atomweight champion Angela Lee in March 2022 her only misstep. Ham understands the formidable challenge with which she has been presented.

“I’m doing my best to prepare in every aspect rather than just focusing on preparing separately,” she said. “As both [of us] possess striking strengths, I’m focusing on training to showcase it [in a] feisty [way] during the title fight. I think Stamp is a powerful opponent. Her muay thai strikes are powerful, and she successfully transitioned them into MMA, but when it comes to MMA, I’m a cut above her. I think MMA striking has different distances and movements that set it apart.”

Neither woman has completed more than three rounds in a mixed martial arts contest, though Ham holds a decided edge in experience as it relates to dealing with scorecards. She has gone the distance a staggering 24 times and carries a 19-5 record in those outings.

“I always aim for the finish and try to fight aggressively,” Ham said. “However, I also consider the judges’ verdicts and make sure to prepare accordingly. It’s great if I get a finish, but even if I don’t, I enjoy being in the ring and don’t mind spending more time there.”

Fairtex has youth and horsepower on her side, having finished six of her first 10 opponents. The list grew at ONE on Prime Video 10, where she cut down Alyse Anderson with body kick in the second round of their May 5 clash. Having grown exceedingly comfortable in her own skin, Ham’s self-belief remains unshaken in the face of undeniable danger.

“I can’t say who holds the advantage, but I maintain confidence in any opponent,” she said. “I will always enjoy the fight in the ring, and I will always try my best, give it my all and come down without any regret.”