When ONE Championship rolls back into the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Aung La N Sang will be ready to start his 2023 charge with a victory over Gilberto Gilvao in a 215-pound catchweight contest. The Myanmar icon was initially slated to face Fan Rong at ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video but was removed from the event after testing positive for COVID-19. Aung La N Sang had no hesitation in accepting an opponent on short notice, no matter the weight class.
“They said that Gilberto can’t make the middleweight weight class and could we do a catchweight. We’re going to do a catchweight at 215, which is fine. I’m about 215, I’m not going to be super undersized. Everybody is around that weight class and that’s why they have that hydration test. We’re not too far off, and after the fight, they weigh you back again to make sure you’re not too heavy. So yeah, it’s good. This weight class is 10 pounds over my natural weight class, but I’ve fought at light heavyweight too, so it’s going to be alright” Aung La N Sang told ONE.
“The Burmese Python” has a history of facing bigger opposition. Most notably, Aung La N Sang was a two-division World Champion and reigned over the light heavyweight division. But he also competed in a classic openweight bout against heavyweight striker Alain Ngalani.
With his wealth of experience, the 37-year-old knows what to expect from a strength and power perspective. However, Aung La N Sang expects to be the quicker and more explosive athlete in the Circle. And given the late replacement from Gilvao, he also believes his cardio will be a decided edge come January 13.
“[Galvao is] going to be physically strong. He’s a jiu-jitsu black belt. He’s down to throw power and looping shots as well. I feel like I’m a little bit better than him in the striking department, a little bit cleaner. I think on the ground, I’ll do okay against him. But I think my conditioning is better than his. If you watch any of my fights, I’m always looking for the finish. I want to get the finish and I’m going to work hard to get the finish” said “The Burmese Python.”
Aung La N Sang believes fans are in for a treat when ONE returns to U.S. primetime. The event will bring together kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, and submission grappling on the organization’s first 2023 event. The nine-bout slate has something for every combat sports fan.
The KillCliff FC representative plans to be one of the most exciting portions of the card with his penchant for finishing fights. But above all else, “The Burmese Python” wants to continue to show his evolution as a martial artist. If he can show his development in a dominant performance, he plans to springboard back into contention for the ONE Middleweight World Title.
“Evolution is what I hope the fans see. An evolution to my game, that I can do everything, that I can do it at a high level, and that I’m a fan-friendly fighter – meaning that it’s a fight that fans will get to enjoy. Fans don’t want to see fights [won] by points, they want to see finishes and they want to see great skills, and that’s what I feel like I’m gonna bring to the table in this fight” said Aung La N Sang.
ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov airs live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Friday, January 13. The event is free to all U.S. and Canadian Amazon Prime subscribers.
In a recent episode of the Couch Warrior Podcast, host Mike welcomed Charalampos Grigoriou, who recently won a contract during season 7 of Dana White's Contender Series after knocking out Cameron Smotherman one minute into the fight. The conversation delved into Grigoriou's martial arts journey, his feelings on representing Cyprus and Greece, and future plans.
