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Former ONE middleweight and light heavyweight MMA world champion Aung La N Sang is ready to face one of the most feared men in the sport today.
'The Burmese Python' will lock horns with undefeated prospect Shamil Erdogan in a three-round middleweight MMA war at ONE 168: Denver on Sept. 6.
If the 39-year-old veteran extends his winning streak to four, he has made it clear that he wants a shot at the division's kingpin, Anatoly Malykhin.
Speaking in a ONE Championship interview, Aung La said he expects a bloody fight against Erdogan in the promotion's U.S. return, which goes down at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
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Confident that he'll get his hand raised, the former double-champ expects that a date with Malykhin will follow. He said:
"Guys like [Erdogan], you know, undefeated Russians - they're good hammers. He's not the last undefeated Russian I want to fight either."
While Erdogan hails from Turkey, he also employs Dagestani-style wrestling techniques. As far as Aung La N Sang is concerned, ending the 34-year-old's perfect 9-0 record, in devastating fashion no less, should warrant a title shot.
Meanwhile, there are not a lot of fighters who would willingly call out a destroyer like Malykhin. Then again, Aung La N Sang is a true warrior who won't back down from any challenge.
Shamil Erdogan sees Aung La N Sang as a springboard to Anatoly Malykhin
Erdogan also has title aspirations of his own and has been vocal about his desire to challenge Malykhin.
The Turkish powerhouse knows beating a former two-division MMA world champion will put him in pole position for 'Sladkiy's middleweight MMA crown. He told ONE:
"Aung La N Sang is one of the best. He has a legacy. He was a two-weight champion in his time."
The Kremost Fight Club affiliate added:
"My hope is a win over him will open the door for me to a championship belt."
Tickets for ONE 168: Denver are available via Ticketmaster.
