Aung La N Sang Eyes Three Potential Showdowns In 2020

There are very few superstars who had a better year than two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang.

The reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion successfully defended both of his belts in 2019.

In March, he knocked out his Japanese rival Ken Hasegawa in their highly-anticipated rematch at ONE: A NEW ERA, and then in October, he finished reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera at ONE: CENTURY PART II.

Even though the Myanmar hero had a banner year in ONE Championship, he is not complacent. In fact, he is as hungry as ever.

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“2020 is going to be the most important year for me,” the 34-year-old says.

“I’m still very healthy, and I have the best team. I have the best guys around me. I have to make the most out of it. Really, 2020 is going to be an important year for me, and I’m still very, very hungry.

“I think I’m hungrier than most contenders. I’m not scared to lose. I’m not scared to lose my championship belt. I’m hungry so that I’m very focused. I’m going to work hard to make sure 2020 is a better year.”

Following his big victory over Vera, “The Burmese Python” announced his intention of moving back down a weight class to defend his middleweight belt next.

Aung La N Sang has paid attention to the latest happenings in the middleweight division, and three athletes, in particular, have caught his eye.

“There is a Dutch guy who is undefeated at 11-0 [named] Reinier de Ridder. He has two fights in ONE Championship — two quick wins. That would be a good fight for me,” the Myanmar sports icon offers.

“Also, Vitaly Bigdash and Leandro Ataides — those would be good challenges. Those are three people that come to the top of my head. I want to fight all of them. Line them up.”

De Ridder had a phenomenal rookie year in The Home Of Martial Arts, as he scored a pair of highlight-reel finishes against “King Kong Warrior” Fan Rong and Gilberto “Giba” Galvao.

Like the Dutchman, a showdown with Ataides — a former ONE Middleweight World Title challenger — would present a fresh match-up. As for Bigdash, it would be a chance for Aung La N Sang to complete their trilogy.

All three of these opponents would represent tantalizing challenges for “The Burmese Python,” but he promises the results will be the same regardless of who sets foot in the Circle with him.

“[I predict] dominance in both divisions,” he says. “I’m going to dominate my middleweight division and I’m going to take out as many contenders as possible. I’m going to take out the contenders [to the point where other] people don’t want to become the next contenders.”

One name that will not end up on his radar is legendary mixed martial artist Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, who is expected to make his promotional debut in 2020.

As intriguing as the prospect of that bout might be for fans, the Myanmar superstar quickly shuts the door on that possibility.

“Vitor and I are brothers. He and I talk all the time, and there is no way I would fight him. He and I train together. I don’t think what I want and what he wants are the same. We’re not after the same thing,” Aung La N Sang explains.

“I’ll be in his training camp. I’ll be helping him get ready for his ONE Championship debut. Whoever it is against, I’ll be helping him get ready for it. But I don’t see myself ever fighting Vitor.”

However, “The Burmese Python” could see another dream of his come true in 2020.

Aung La N Sang would love to have the world’s largest martial arts organization return to his native country with a massive show.

“At the end of the year, I hope we can hold a soccer stadium event in Myanmar when it doesn’t rain so we can do it with the open roof,” he says.

“Imagine 50,000 people in the stadium in Myanmar. That would be crazy!”

Read more: Aung La N Sang Reflects On A Magical 2019