“A huge honor for me” - Aung La N Sang shares a mutual respect for Yushin Okami, excitement for imminent faceoff

The long-anticipated faceoff between MMA legends Aung La N Sang and Yushin Okami, is finally coming to fruition live on Saturday, November 19.

The official news came as a pleasant surprise to many sports fans across the world and especially in Asia, as the two iconic MMA stars are finally set to face off at ONE 163. ‘The Burmese Python’ and Yushin Okami share a deep mutual respect for each other, with both fighters recognizing what each has done in the sport.

Aung La’s achievements speak for themselves, as he ran through the middleweight division to earn a world title and later became a two-division world champion by claiming the light-heavyweight world title as well. Meanwhile, Okami has showcased his talents in several promotions across the world in a career that has spanned two full decades.

Earlier this year, the pair expressed their mutual desire to test each other’s skills in the Circle. The dream matchup between the two legends is finally taking place, and the Myanmar icon is more than excited to face off with one of Asia’s most decorated MMA fighters.

At the ONE 163 press conference, the 37-year-old said:

“When I first got an offer to this fight Yushin Okami, I was very excited. I’ve been a big fan of his, and have been watching him in different promotions as well. So to be able to test my skills with one of my favorite Asian mixed martial artists is a huge honor for me.”

'The Burmese Python' returns to the Circle looking to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss in the culmination of his trilogy with former ONE middleweight world champion Vitaly Bigdash, which took place last February at ONE: Full Circle. And, although 41-year-old Yushin Okami hasn't fought for three years, he’s thrilled to make an epic comeback against a worthy opponent on the world stage.

Watch the presser below:

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Yushin Okami explains the number one reason why he called out Aung La N Sang

Yushin Okami detailed in past Twitter posts a desire to fight Aung La N Sang, revealing his reasons why.

During his illustrious career, Okami has faced some of the toughest and most prolific competitors in the world, including Rich ‘Ace Franklin’ and Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva. He continues to seek top competition, an honor he believes Aung La deserves for his own achievements in ONE Championship. He told ONE:

“I knew him before I came to ONE, and I respected him. He was the champion at middleweight and light heavyweight. The content of his fights were great, and I was proud of him as an Asian.”

Watch as Myanmar’s first-ever double world champion, Aung La N Sang, takes on his biggest challenge yet in Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami on Saturday, November 19.