Aung La N Sang's Top 5 Favorite Moments In ONE Championship

Throughout his career in ONE Championship, Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang has authored some unforgettable moments in the cage.

From making his debut to capturing his second ONE World Championship in his homeland, the 33-year-old has captivated audiences with his talent, his durability, and his warrior spirit.

As we get closer to his middleweight world title defense against Mohammad “O Lutador” Karaki at ONE: PURSUIT OF GREATNESS in Yangon, Myanmar, Aung La N Sang shares his top five favorite moments in The Home Of Martial Arts.

#1 Claiming The ONE Middleweight World Title

Aung La N Sang has several years left in his mixed martial arts career, but he believes it will be difficult for anything to top his first World Title victory.

“My number one favorite moment is winning the middleweight belt in Myanmar,” he says.

“For me to be able to do it in front of my country and my countrymen, it was the best feeling.”

In January 2017, he challenged previously undefeated titleholder Vitaly Bigdash for the belt at ONE: QUEST FOR POWER. Although he hung tough for five rounds, the fact he accepted the match on 10 days notice took its toll, and he lost via decision.

“The Burmese Python” was quickly offered a rematch with the Russian, however. They squared off in the main event of ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION, which emanated from the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium later that June. This time, the challenger had an eight-week training camp, and the result was a five-round instant classic.

After battling back and forth for 25 minutes, Aung La N Sang defeated Bigdash via unanimous decision to claim the ONE Middleweight World Title and become Myanmar’s first mixed martial arts World Champion – a feat that makes him swell with pride more than anything.

“I don’t fight out of emotion. I don’t fight out of hatred. I don’t fight out of revenge. It wasn’t avenging the loss. It wasn’t the personal reasons that made me happy,” he says.

“It was the fact that I finally reached championship status, that I was finally a champion – that was the greatest accomplishment with that match.”

#2 Becoming A Two-Division ONE World Champion

Never one to shy away from a golden opportunity, Aung La N Sang did not blink when he was asked to compete for the vacant ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship against Brazil’s Alexandre “Bebezao” Machado in February.

Prior to their match, Machado had earned a stunning knockout against fan favorite Alain “The Panther” Ngalani, which set the stage for this title bout at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD in Yangon.

The match was extremely quick. In a record-setting 56 seconds, Aung La N Sang landed a head kick that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. “The Burmese Python” followed with a few punches to force the stoppage.

Just like that, the Myanmar sports icon was standing tall as only the second two-division ONE World Champion.

“It didn’t matter if it was five rounds or one minute. I was going to go in there and handle my business. I was very dialed in,” Aung La N Sang says.

“Physically, I was ready. Mentally, I was ready. Spiritually, I was ready.”

#3 Coming Home To Compete In Myanmar

Competing at home in Myanmar is something that will always feel special to Aung La N Sang, but there was nothing like his first time stepping into the cage at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium for his main-event bout with Mohamed “Flex” Ali.

“The Burmese Python” clashed with the Egyptian at ONE: UNION OF WARRIORS in March 2016, and he needed less than three minutes to submit his rival via guillotine choke.

However, Aung La N Sang’s outstanding performance was secondary to giving the passionate, sold-out home crowd something to cheer.

“Just being able to fight in front of Myanmar and seeing how much joy it gave them when I won [was a special moment],” he says.

That victory helped propel Aung La N Sang to stardom in his native land, and he relishes the chance to compete in Myanmar every time he goes there now.

#4 Pulling Through As The Underdog

As a World Champion, Aung La N Sang usually steps into the ONE cage as the favorite, but there have been times during his tenure when he was viewed as the underdog.

That was the case in July 2016 when he collided with Aleksei Butorin at ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (HEFEI).

“The win in China against 10-0 Russian Aleksei Butorin [was memorable] because I was a heavy underdog in that fight,” the Myanmar icon says.

The Russian powerhouse entered the contest with an unblemished resume and a 100 percent finishing rate – boasting nine knockouts and one submission win.

While he may not have been favored to win, “The Burmese Python” bucked the odds by going out and putting on one of his most impressive performances.

In the second round, he was able to catch Butorin in an arm-triangle choke, which eventually led to the submission win and his third straight victory after joining the ONE roster.

#5 A Grand Premiere

After spending much of his career in the United States, Aung La N Sang was overjoyed when he received the call to showcase his skills under the ONE banner.

That is why his promotional debut against Mahmoud Salama at ONE: ERA OF CHAMPIONS in June 2014 is a highlight. He knocked out the Egyptian in just 67 seconds.

“I said this was going to be the beginning of my legacy for ONE Championship before the match started. I vividly remember that,” Aung La N Sang recalls.

“I told them in the interview, this was going to be the beginning of me being a champion in ONE.”

Just three years later, that prediction came true.