3 Marquee Matchups Awaiting Aung La N Sang In 2019

ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang (24-10) could not have asked for a better year.

The Myanmar hero kicked off 2018 by defeating Alexandre Machado (9-3) in the first round for the vacant ONE Light Heavyweight World Title, and then recorded two defenses of his middleweight belt.

The 33-year-old defeated challenger Ken Hasegawa (16-3) by knockout in the match of the year in June. He followed that with another dominant performance, this time against Middle Eastern champion Mohammad Karaki (9-1) at ONE: PURSUIT OF GREATNESS, which increased his winning streak to five bouts.

With two World Titles to defend, it looks like “The Burmese Python” could have a busy year ahead.

The frontrunners for a shot at his middleweight crown are familiar faces.

There can surely be no one in the martial arts world who would complain if Aung La N Sang VS Ken Hasegawa II is next.

The Japanese star and Aung La N Sang traded heavy punches throughout their battle before “The Burmese Python” dug deep to get the knockout in the final round and send the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium into a frenzy. A chance to run back the most exciting bout of ONE Championship history would undoubtedly be high on fans’ wish list.

The same can also be said about a rubber match between Aung La N Sang and Russia’s former ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash (10-2).

“The Burmese Python” and Bigdash fought twice for the gold in 2017, winning one bout each.

Their second bout, in particular, ranks as one of the best ever seen in The Home Of Martial Arts. There is unfinished business between these two warriors, and Bigdash’s exceptional performance in his last outing against Yuki Niimura made a strong case for being the next in line for another shot at middleweight gold.

The Rostov native pulled off one of the most impressive submissions of 2018 to take out Pancrase Middleweight World Champion Yuki “Yu-King” Niimura, but he believes he may need to win one more contest before he can earn top-contender status.

At light heavyweight, all other contenders might see themselves overlooked in favor of a World Champion versus World Champion super-match, as Filipino ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera (16-7) drops down in weight.

Both men have expressed a keen interest in this blockbuster contest, as well as ONE Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong. ONE: GREATNESS UNLEASHED – the organization’s second show at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 12 October – is a likely battleground for the historic bout.

While all three matches could happen this year, only one has been guaranteed.

Aung La N Sang will, in fact, kick off 2019 by defending his middleweight belt against Hasegawa at ONE: A NEW ERA on Sunday, 31 March.

If “The Burmese Python” can defeat him at the promotion’s historic first event in Japan, then perhaps a trilogy match with Bigdash or a super-bout with Vera will follow.