ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga is used to receiving cheers from thousands of fans, but on Thursday afternoon, it was the other way around.
Zamboanga went into fanmode as she watched her favorite volleyball team the dynastic Creamline squad play against Chery Tiggo in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino conference at the PhilSports Arena.
The experience for “The Menace” was certainly positive as she watched the 10-time PVL champs demolish the Crossover in straight sets – with her longtime idols setting the tone in the breezy blowout win.
“I’m truly happy to be here. This is my first time watching the PVL live and I truly got starstruck with the players,” Zamboanga told reporters after the match.
“I’m a big fan of Creamline. There are a lot of players there that I follow like Jema Galanza, Michelle Gumabao, and Alyssa Valdez. I’ve been following them ever since they’ve started.”
While she considers herself a hardcore fan of the team, Zamboanga and Creamline have one thing in common – they’ve both made history for the country over the past year.
Zamboanga did so by becoming the first-ever Filipina to win an MMA World Title when she scored the interim strap against Alyona Rassohyna early in January. Creamline, meanwhile, became the first professional volleyball squad in the country to complete a Grand Slam in September of 2024.
“It’s truly a different feeling making history for your country, I know they feel the same, and I’m blessed and grateful to also have that distinction,” she said.
She also shared the experience of being the one on the stands now, compared to competing on the floor.
And it’s not something that she’s used to.
“This is totally different from my sport. And what they’re doing, it’s tough. As a spectator, it’s really nerve wracking,” she said.
Another thing that she isn’t used to is the attention she gets now as a World Champion.
She wasn’t only a fan that day, she was welcomed by the country’s most popular volleyball league like a VIP. She got front row seats, TV time, and even access to the locker room of the Cool Smashers after the game, where she finally met her volleyball heroes in person.
“It’s such a different feeling,” she said. “I didn’t expect that after winning a championship, my recognition would really go through the roof. I thought it’s just going to be normal but I’m grateful to be here.”
