Top 5 Knockouts From ONE’s Myanmar Stars
Myanmar’s martial arts stars have given ONE Championship fans plenty to cheer about, including some incredible knockouts.
The nation’s favorite son, Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang, has led the way as a two-weight ONE World Champion, but many of his compatriots are just as capable of delivering stunning finishes on the global stage.
From rare techniques to jaw-dropping power strikes, here are five of the most memorable knockouts from the standout athletes of Myanmar.
#5 “The Burmese Python” Knocks Out The Heavyweight King
An epic clash in the main event of ONE: CENTURY deserved an epic conclusion, and that’s what ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La N Sang delivered against ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera.
After an electric first round, the hard-hitting pair picked up where they left off in the center of the Circle in the second stanza as they exchanged heavy leather inside the pocket.
Both men absorbed some heavy fire, but it was Aung La N Sang that landed with more force. Vera tried to keep his rival off with a left elbow, but “The Burmese Python” nailed him with a spinning elbow in reply.
Vera responded with one of his own, but the Myanmar hero was a step ahead. He dodged the strike and dropped the Filipino-American to his knees with a right hook, then followed up with ground and pound to cement the biggest win of his career.
#4 Bozhena Antoniyar’s Incredible Debut
It was important for Bozhena “Toto” Antoniyar to make an impression in her debut performance in the stacked women’s atomweight division, and she did just that against Shwe Sin at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD in February 2018.
“Toto” secured an early takedown and fired away with rapid striking. As Shwe Sin tried to defend the incoming blows, Bozhena Antoniyar moved swiftly into full mount.
#3 Ye Thway Ne Displays His Lethwei Might
Two-time Myanmar Lethwei Gold Belt National Champion Ye Thway Ne earned his most spectacular win in the Circle with a first-round finish against Saw Thar Nge at ONE: HERO’S DREAM in November 2017.
From the outset, Ye Thway Ne invited exchanges, and his compatriot was eager to oblige. However, through relentless pressure and skilled body work, the Taung Ka Lay representative began to wear his opponent down.
Ye Thway Ne countered a spinning attack with a straight right that rocked his opponent. He soon followed up with a right hook to the body, then a sweeping left hook that put Saw Thar Nge on wobbly legs. One final left hand to the chin was enough to put away his durable countryman.
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#2 Phoe Thaw Scores A Rare Push-Kick KO At Home
Phoe “Bushido” Thaw was undefeated heading into ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD, and he maintained his perfect record with a first-round knockout in front of his hometown crowd in Yangon.
Cambodia’s Sor Sey used his Kun Khmer skills to land hard leg kicks on the man from Myanmar, but things quickly went awry when he ate a hard jab and then beckoned his rival into a wild exchange.
Phoe Thaw got the better of the flurries and sent Sor Sey stumbling backward when he landed another accurate left hand.
“Bushido” then saw a window of opportunity and unleashed a stunning right push kick to the chin that crumpled Sor Sey onto the canvas to end the match.
#1 Aung La N Sang Caps Epic Clash With Huge KO
After four and a half rounds of some of the most dramatic and exhilarating moments in ONE Championship history, Aung La N Sang defended his ONE Middleweight World Championship against Ken Hasegawa at ONE: SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR with an outstanding strike.
There were already more than 20 minutes of epic action that made the contest 2018’s Bout of the Year, but an exceptional uppercut from the reigning World Champion gave it the perfect finale in the final frame.
The Sanford MMA standout looked the fresher of the two athletes and, buoyed by the screams from the Yangon crowd, he dialed up his offense against the Japanese warrior. He started by landing a right hand to the jaw and then scored with hard punches on the inside that caused Hasegawa to stumble backward.
“The Burmese Python” rocked his foe again with a chopping left hand. As the DEEP Openweight World Champion attempted to come forward and hold on, Aung La N Sang delivered a crushing right uppercut to close the show and end one of the all-time classic matches in The Home Of Martial Arts.
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