“The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang, 32, of Myanmar is now the reigning champion in both of ONE Championship’s middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. The Kachin mixed martial artist won both titles in front of his countrymen in Yangon, Myanmar.
Aung was born in Myitkyina, Myanmar. He graduated from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science.
While in college, Aung trained MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. After years of training and fights, he is now the second two-division champion of ONE Championship, following the footsteps of his friend ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion Martin Nguyen.
On June 14, 2014, Aung made his successful ONE Championship debut at “ONE: Era of Champions” at the Mata Elang International Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. He knocked out Mahmoud Salama via punches in the first round.
After beating Salama, Aung defeated his three next opponents namely Mohamed Ali, Aleksei Butorin and Michal Pasternak. The Kachin MMA fighter’s winning streak in ONE Championship ended when Vitaly Bigdash defeated him via unanimous decision at “ONE: Quest for Power” on January 14, 2017 at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta.
On June 30, 2017, Aung redeemed himself during his rematch with Bigdash. The former became the new ONE Middleweight World Champion after winning via unanimous decision at “ONE: Light of a Nation” at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium in Yangon.
On November 3, 2017, Aung returned to the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium for the inaugural openweight super-bout of ONE Championship. He submitted his heavyweight opponent Alain Ngalani at “ONE: Hero’s Dream” seconds before the first round ended.
On February 23, 2018, Aung and Alexandre Machado of Brazil battled it out for the then vacant ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship title at “ONE: Quest for Gold”. The Burmese MMA fighter knocked out his Brazilian opponent via head kick in the first round.
Aung now has 22 wins and 10 losses. He told the crowd at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium, “Life is short; we have to make it count.”
“One thing is for sure: Myanmar, when we’re united, nothing can stop us,” Aung continued. “That head kick is what we’ve been working on. I want to thank everyone that helped me out to get here.”
“I’m in here by myself but this is a team sport,” the newly crowned ONE Light Heavyweight Champion added. “If we’re united and we’re together, we can do anything.”
CONAN Daily 