Oct 8, 2019

Michael Schiavello Speaks On Brandon Vera Vs. Aung La N Sang

Aung La N Sang vs. Brandon Vera at the ONE CENTURY press conference

The first time Michael “The Voice” Schiavello called the action for one of Brandon “The Truth” Vera’s bouts was at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS in Manila, Philippines last November.

On that evening, the clash ended with the Filipino-American knocking out Italian heavyweight Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli just 64 seconds into the contest, which prompted the Australian commentator to scream his signature catchphrase, “Goodnight, Irene!”

However, when Schiavello delivers the play-by-play commentary for the ONE Heavyweight World Champion’s upcoming bout this weekend, it may not end so quickly or in such dramatic fashion.

On Sunday, 13 October, Vera challenges two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang for his ONE Light Heavyweight World Title at ONE: CENTURY PART II in Tokyo, Japan.

“This is the one the whole world is talking about. This may very well be the most anticipated match-up on the entire ONE: CENTURY card,” Schiavello explains.

“The only thing for me is that Brandon Vera has only fought four times over the last five years. He has been a dominant champion, he has laid waste to everyone, and he has done so very easily.”

Vera – who made his ONE Championship debut in December 2014 – has finished each of his opponents in the first round, either by knockout or TKO.

To date, no one has been able to test the gas tank and the chin of “The Truth” inside the Circle. However, that may change on Sunday.

“What happens when he goes down in weight and faces one of the most brutal, one of the most aggressive, and one of the most dominant forces in ONE Championship history in Aung La N Sang?” Schiavello asks.

“What happens when Aung La N Sang hits him with that right hand he calls a steel pipe? No one has ever hit Vera in ONE Championship with a steel pipe.”

According to the 44-year-old Melbourne native, the ONE Heavyweight World Champion has to be wary of more than just Aung La N Sang’s hands.

“With Vera coming down in weight, let’s see if Aung La N Sang takes him into deep water and if he has the gas tank to go a full five rounds,” Schiavello continues.

“We know Aung La N Sang has the gas tank to go five full rounds and do so while getting hellacious punishment as we saw in his first match against Ken Hasegawa.”

For “The Voice,” he believes the Filipino-American must keep the Myanmar hero on the outside and use his quickness, length, and angles to pop the reigning light heavyweight king.

“Vera‘s got to use his speed. That drift away left hook of his – it’s imperative that he uses it. He’s got to use his angles. He’s got to keep Aung La N Sang at the end of his jab,” Schiavello observes.

“Because once he allows Aung La N Sang on the inside, Aung La N Sang’s going to go to work with that steel pipe, get a takedown, get on top, and use that vicious ground and pound.”

However, “The Burmese Python” may not be the only one looking for a takedown.

While Vera is known as the heavyweight division’s premier knockout artist, he also has a strong grappling background – and he could surprise fans inside the Ryogoku Kokugikan by unleashing it.

“Aung La N Sang himself has to watch out that Vera doesn’t take him down and get on top because he’s going to have the massive size advantage,” Schiavello warns.

“He can tap out Aung La N Sang on the ground, and he can reign down those messy heavyweight fists of his on the ground.”

Like the fans, “The Voice” is just as curious to find out how the biggest ONE Light Heavyweight World Title bout in history will play out once these two heroes stand across from each other in the Circle.

Everyone will find out on Sunday night.

Watch PART I in USA on 12 October at 8pm EST and PART II on 13 October at 4am EST
Watch PART I in India on 13 October at 5:30am IST and PART II at 1:30pm IST
Watch PART I in Indonesia on 13 October at 7am WIB and PART II at 3pm WIB
Watch PART I in Singapore on 13 October at 8am SGT and PART II at 4pm SGT
Watch PART I in the Philippines on 13 October at 8am PHT and PART II at 4pm PHT
Watch PART I in Japan on 13 October at 9am JST and PART II at 5pm JST

ONE: CENTURY is the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history with 28 World Champions featured across various martial arts. No organization has ever promoted two full-scale World Championship events on the same day.

The Home Of Martial Arts will break new ground as it brings multiple World Title bouts, a trio of World Grand Prix Championship Finals, and several World Champion versus World Champion matches to the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.