Aung La N Sang Ready for War: I Want to Make It a Painful Fight

LockerRoom Team

31 Aug 2024

Aung La N Sang, the former two-division ONE Championship World Champion, is set to face undefeated Russian phenom Shamil Erdogan in a high-stakes middleweight bout at ONE 168: Denver. With 20 fights under his belt in the organization, Aung La N Sang is not just focused on winning—he wants to put on a performance that fans will remember.

Reflecting on his preparation, Aung La N Sang revealed that he is healthier than ever. “I'm fully rested. All my neck injuries are gone, so the best me is going to show up on September 6,” he stated, hinting that fans haven’t seen the last of his best performances. “Ten years, 20 fights, man. Put some respect on that name. I'm excited, the best is yet to come, and I promise you that I'm not just saying that the best is yet to come. I'm gonna put on a banger fight.”

Facing a fighter like Erdogan, who boasts an impressive wrestling pedigree and an undefeated record, is no easy task. “He's a world medallist in wrestling. He's an undefeated Russian. His wrestling is really good. It’s at a really high level, and his striking is too,” Aung La N Sang acknowledged. Despite Erdogan’s strengths, Aung La N Sang is prepared for a grueling battle. “It's going to be a hard fight. It's going to be a hard three-rounder, and I’m going to look to break his face.”

The “Burmese Python” is not just focused on winning—he’s intent on making the fight as challenging as possible. “I want to make it a hard, hard fight. I want to feel every second of this. I want to feel the pain and everything. I want to make it a painful three-round fight where I finish him in the third round,” he said, emphasizing his desire to test both his and his opponent's limits.

Competing again in Denver, a city known for its high altitude, presents its own challenges. Aung La N Sang is aware of the difficulty of fighting in such conditions but remains confident in his preparation. “That high altitude is going to be hard. It's going to be hard on your lungs, so I have to prepare and make sure I'm in shape. I just gotta make sure I'm in tremendous shape and push the pace,” he explained.

A victory against Erdogan could propel Aung La N Sang back into title contention, something he’s clearly eyeing. “A win would make it four straight for you. Would you be looking for a ONE Middleweight MMA World Title shot next? It makes sense, right? I was the longest-reigning champ. It would make sense.”

With his eyes set on redemption and reclaiming his title, Aung La N Sang is ready to deliver a performance that lives up to his legacy. As he puts it, “We can talk all we want, but nothing really matters unless I get the job done, and it's a hard job.”

For Aung La N Sang, this fight is more than just another bout; it’s a chance to remind the world why he’s one of the most respected fighters in ONE Championship history. And come September 6, he plans to do just that.