‘Like A Disney Story’ – Thanh Le Says Relationship With Brother Vinh Has Been Key To Success

Reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le understands that great accomplishments never come without sacrifice.

The 36-year-old says he owes much of his mixed martial arts success to his younger brother, Vinh, who has supported his journey every step of the way.

In fact, Thanh doesn’t believe he could have become a divisional king on the global stage – or racked up a 12-2 slate with 12 finishes – if it weren’t for Vinh’s unwavering support.

Before defending his belt against Garry Tonon in the main event of ONE: LIGHTS OUT on Friday, 11 March, the Vietnamese-American striker told ONE Championship:

“Oh, if [Vinh’s] not involved, my record doesn’t look the way it does. If he’s not involved, I’m not the mixed martial artist that I am today. If he’s not involved, I might not even have this gold strap in my house.

“I’d like to think that no matter what happens and what jumps in front of me, you’re always going to find a way to achieve your goals, but man, I’ve had a lot of help along the way, and he is one of those huge pieces.”

The Le brothers share a unique and special bond – both as siblings and training partners.

And as Thanh prepares to battle a BJJ superstar in Tonon, Vinh is right there beside him, helping sharpen the tools needed for this World Title showdown.

The defending titleholder said of Vinh:

“It’s a very selfless relationship, honestly. If there was some kind of fairy tale, like a Disney story on brothers, I think we got it down pat. It’s been pretty good. It’s been a great relationship. There’s no downsides. It’s all positive and all great. And when there is a hiccup, we talk about it, we get it fixed.

One trip to Thanh Le’s Instagram account, and you’ll get lost in a sea of content that includes combat sports demonstrations, interesting stories, and an array of comedic sketches. But while the topics may change, one constant is his brotherly connection with Vinh.

Meanwhile, Thanh is quick to tell everyone that they shouldn’t sleep on his brother’s mixed martial arts talents.

Vinh intends to return to competition soon, and ONE’s featherweight kingpin wants nothing more than to see his sibling compete in the Circle one day.

Thanh Le wants To See His Brother In ONE Championship

For now, Thanh Le is fully focused on getting past Garry Tonon.

Once he’s done taking care of business, he’ll shift his focus to Vinh, who owns an amateur MMA record of 4-0 and is looking to join the professional ranks.

Thanh said:

“He has spent a lot of time focusing on my career, which I’m grateful for. I believe we’re looking to get into the cage early next year. And, you know, it would be awesome to be able to fight for the same promotion as my brother.

“It would be awesome to let him get a fight under his belt, turn pro, get a couple fights, and then make his way to ONE Championship, so he can show the world what he’s got. He’s an amazing fighter.”

While Thanh has already reached the pinnacle in ONE, he believes Vinh has what it takes to surpass that achievement.

It’s certainly a bold prediction – but that’s how highly he thinks of his younger brother.

The featherweight ruler added:

“Wherever you think I can make it, [it’s] past that [for Vinh]. So I obviously think I am one of the best fighters on the planet. I think he can be better than that. But yeah, I am biased. And I think I’m biased because I have all the information.

If you guys had all the information, you would think the same thing, but you don’t. So I’m here to tell you. I truly believe that in my heart.”