ONE Championship: Myanmar icon Aung La N Sang to call it a day after Fight Night 36
The former MMA middleweight and light heavyweight world champion says he will do bigger things as a coach than as a fighter
Aung La N Sang, the 40-year-old former double champion in mixed martial arts, has confirmed that his clash with Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE Fight Night 36 next month will be his last fight, marking the end of an era for one of Asia’s most beloved fighters.
The Myanmar icon, who has held both the middleweight and light heavyweight world titles in ONE Championship, said that after almost two decades in the sport, it was time to close the book on competition.
“You can’t fight forever,” Aung La told the Post. “I need to move on, take care of my family, and start giving back to martial arts. This feels like the right time.”
Known as “The Burmese Python”, Aung La rose to superstardom by capturing two world titles and headlining historic shows in Yangon, where thousands of fans filled arenas to watch him fight. He is almost certain to be enshrined as one of the first inductees in ONE’s Hall of Fame.
When pressed to pick one career highlight, Aung La pointed to the night he won his first world title. “That’s probably my biggest moment, and my biggest accomplishment in life,” he said.
Kadestam, Aung La’s final opponent on October 4 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, is himself a former welterweight champion known for his knockout power. But for Aung La, the match-up carried an added layer of meaning.