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Denice Zamboanga has officially relinquished the ONE Women's Atomweight MMA World Championship after welcoming her first child with husband Fritz Biagtan.

In a social media post on Tuesday, the reigning champion announced her decision to vacate the title, citing her desire to focus on motherhood while allowing other athletes in the division the opportunity to compete for the championship.

Known as “The Menace,” Zamboanga became the first Filipina MMA world champion and said the decision came after careful prayer and reflection.

She acknowledged that stepping away from the throne was not easy but emphasized that it was the right choice for this chapter of her life and for the contenders pursuing their dreams in the division.

Zamboanga’s decision marks the end of a historic reign, as she shifts her focus from defending a world title to embracing a new role as a mother while leaving a lasting legacy in Philippine mixed martial arts.

Filipina MMA champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has withdrawn from her scheduled ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship defense at ONE 173 on November 16 due to “medical reasons.”

Zamboanga was set to defend her title against Japan’s Ayaka Miura at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. 

"With a heavy heart, I need to share some difficult news… I was truly excited to defend my belt at ONE 173 against Ayaka. I know how strong and talented she is, and I was looking forward to testing myself against such a worthy challenger. This was a fight I have been preparing for and one I deeply wanted to give to the fans," she said.

Her withdrawal leaves former strawweight champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio as the sole Filipino representative on the card.

Zamboanga apologized to Ayaka and her sponsors in the same post, but vowed to return stronger, underscoring her love for the sport.

"This sport means everything to me, and I promise I am fully committed to coming back stronger. My passion for fighting has not changed, and I will continue to work hard so that I can once again represent ONE at the highest level when I return."

Pacio, 28, will move up in weight for a high-stakes challenge against local favorite Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.

Zamboanga’s absence marks a temporary setback after her recent title win and shifts the spotlight to Pacio’s quest to reclaim world title glory in Tokyo.