Aung La N Sang is gearing up to make his return to the circle at ONE 163 on November 19. When ONE Championship returns to the Singapore Indoor Stadium in just a few weeks, ‘The Burmese Python’ will take on Yushin Okami, who is eager to come back with a vengeance in his return to action.
Aung La N Sang hasn’t fought since February this year, where he lost a trilogy fight to Vitaly Bigdash.
In an interview with SCMP MMA, the returning fan-favorite spoke about his excitement to come back and display what he has been working on:
“Before I came to Henry [Hooft], I was more of a grappler too. So I know I've neglected that part of my game, and I know what a good camp is like, that part can be sharpened as well. And so for me, it's like the evolution of mixed martial arts, the evolution of me growing as a fighter, you know, that's what excites me. That's what gets me up at night and in the morning to train, so I'm excited.”
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Watch the full interview below:
Facing a fellow veteran of the sport in Okami, Aung La will be looking to prove that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank even at the age of 37.
It was only two years ago that ‘The Burmese Python’ was at the very pinnacle of the sport as the reigning and defending ONE middleweight and light heavyweight world champion.
Whilst his two defeats to Reinier de Ridder may have lost him his world championships, the fans’ support for one of Asia’s biggest combat sports stars will never go away.
“A huge honor for me” - Aung La N Sang shares a mutual respect for Yushin Okami, excitement for imminent faceoff
On November 19 at ONE 163, the long-anticipated contest between two certified MMA legends will take place as Aung La N Sang faces Yushin Okami.
The fight’s announcement rippled throughout the MMA world as the two veterans would finally meet face-to-face. With the pair having such extensive careers, they have both shown respect for each other's achievements.
Aung La N Sang's legacy is assured by his former simultaneous double champion status. In a run that saw him dominate the middleweight division, he was also able to claim and defend the light heavyweight championship. Meanwhile, Okami has competed all across the world in a career that started 20 years ago.
At the ONE 163 press conference, ‘The Burmese Python’ expressed how excited he is to get the chance to take on a fellow icon of Asian MMA:
“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.”
Watch the presser below: