"He is now the champion in my weight class" - Shamil Erdogan says he and Anatoly Malykhin are on a collision course

Unbeaten Turkish middleweight MMA sensation Shamil Erdogan believes a victory over 'The Burmese Python' Aung La N Sang next weekend could earn him the next crack at ONE Championship gold.

The 34-year-old Kremost Fight Club representative says he and reigning three-division MMA world champion 'Sladkiy' Anatoly Malykhin are on a collision course, and that beating Aung La N Sang should be enough to draw his Russian counterpart into the Circle.

Speaking to ONE Championship in a recent interview, Erdogan shared his thoughts on Malykhin and why he believes they are destined to meet on the battlefield.

The 34-year-old said:

"Anatoly Malykhin, I have a good relationship with him, and I know him from the times when we competed in freestyle wrestling. But he is now the champion in my weight class, and if it stays this way, our fight will be inevitable."

Shamil Erdogan is set to lock horns with 'The Burmese Python' Aung La N Sang at ONE 168: Denver, which broadcasts live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, Sept. 6.

Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free on Amazon Prime Video. Limited tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.

Shamil Erdogan guns for statement victory against Aung La N Sang: "I’ll KO him for the bonus"

Not only is undefeated Turkish fighter Shamil Erdogan confident he will beat former two-division king 'The Burmese Python' Aung La N Sang at ONE 168: Denver next weekend.

He also believes he will bag $50,000 by the end of the night.

Erdogan told ONE Championship:

"I don’t think the fight will last three rounds. Inshallah, I’ll take him down in the second round. I plan to finish the fight in the stand-up as I need the bonus. I want to ask Mr. Chatri to be ready. I’ll KO him for the bonus."

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding ONE 169: Atlanta as it happens.