Two-division World Champion Aung La N Sang will return to ONE Championship on Friday, October 30. It will be the first time back in action since defeating Brandon “The Truth” Vera last year, and awaiting him will be a hungry, undefeated challenger.
In what has not been an easy year for anyone, getting to Singapore for his title defense has not been a simple task for Aung La N Sang. The global COVID-19 pandemic forced events to be postponed or canceled, and international travel was halted, leaving athletes in limbo.
Then, in July, Aung La N Sang announced that he tested positive for the coronavirus and was forced into quarantine until he recovered.
Through all those trials and tribulations, “The Burmese Python” remained positive and now has an opportunity to headline one of the biggest events of the year. It is back to business, and the reigning middleweight king is set to defend the throne.
But defending his crown will prove to be difficult.
Standing opposite the Myanmar native in the ONE Middleweight World Championship bout at ONE: Inside The Matrix will be Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder.
De Ridder burst onto the ONE scene in January 2019 with a first-round submission over Fan Rong at ONE: Hero’s Ascent. The attention-grabbing performance was followed up by a knockout victory against Gilberto Galvao at ONE: Legendary Quest.
In February, “The Dutch Knight” punched his title ticket with a unanimous decision victory over Leandro Ataides. The first decision in De Ridder’s seven-year career.
The Combat Brothers representative is looking to become the next great European World Champion.
With a 92% finishing rate, the Dutch martial artist will garner the champion’s attention and respect. He will also hold a height and reach advantage that will force Aung La N Sang to find ways inside his range.
But if there is one thing Aung La N Sang has shown in his career, it is a willingness to engage.
There is no fear from the World Champion. He has proven his mettle in countless battles, and his warrior spirit is what has made him a hero in Myanmar. It has also made him a can’t-miss athlete in mixed martial arts. Any Aung La N Sang bout is guaranteed to be exciting.
A global star who never fails at putting on a show vs. an undefeated rising star is the type of match that makes this sport great. It is the epitome of martial arts, and it is a contest fans will need to sit and enjoy just before Halloween rolls in.
ONE: Inside The Matrix will air live and free on the B/R Live app at 8:30 a.m. EST/5:30 a.m. PST on Friday, October 30.
