For over a decade, Aung La N Sang has been a stalwart at ONE Championship the place he beforehand reigned as a two-division champion whereas taking over problem throughout a number of divisions throughout his profession. However on Friday, “The Burmese Python” is looking it a profession with plans to retire after his struggle in opposition to Zebeztian Kadestam at ONE Combat Evening 36.
There are a variety of explanation why he opted to name it a profession now however making that alternative fairly than having it made for him was positively an enormous a part of his resolution.
“I’m 40 now. You possibly can’t struggle without end,” Aung La N Sang informed MMA Combating. “It’s higher for me to spend my time elevating the following technology than to maintain combating. You possibly can see we’re constructing a gymnasium right here, too, so that is the following step in my life.
“You’ve seen it many occasions. Tony Ferguson, all these guys. You already know the [third] time when Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell are combating, and so they shouldn’t be combating. You already know for a indisputable fact that they shouldn’t be combating. I don’t wish to be in that very same boat, and whereas I’m wholesome, I wish to construct one thing else.”
As a lot as he’s going to overlook combating, Aung La N Sang isn’t leaving the game as a result of he’s really develop into an enormous a part of the teaching workers at Kill Cliff FC, a Florida-based gymnasium that counts fighters like Michael Chandler, Gilbert Burns and Michael Johnson amongst these on the staff.
One of many fighters he works with most frequently is present UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder, who’s getting ready for his personal matchup in opposition to Brendan Allen in Vancouver on Oct. 18.
Between 2020 and 2021, Aung La N Sang really battled de Ridder in a pair of title fights when was ONE’s middleweight and lightweight heavyweight champion. He ended up dropping each titles to de Ridder and now counts him as a detailed good friend and teammate, who he hopes to assist develop into a champion once more solely this time within the UFC.
“I don’t assume it’s loopy,” Aung La N Sang stated about his relationship with de Ridder. “It occurs on a regular basis. You already know this sport may be very small and the fellows on the prime, they have an inclination to run into one another. For me it’s simply an honor to be part of his camp and I do know his recreation very properly, clearly spending that many rounds with him. I understand how good he’s. For me, it’s actually cool.”
Whereas de Ridder made his identify in ONE Championship, he’s now an ideal 4-0 within the UFC with the potential to struggle for a title with one other win. Aung La N Sang knew that de Ridder was going to make waves within the UFC even when there was some hesitation to consider he was actually that good simply because he got here from one other group.
“You concentrate on MMA and everybody thinks about UFC,” Aung La N Sang stated. “However how is it potential {that a} man that’s been doing MMA and championship fights outdoors the UFC and doing precisely what these guys are doing, wouldn’t be nearly as good as them? Some individuals are delusional in that sense.
“If an individual performs soccer at a really excessive stage, simply because they don’t play at Actual Madrid or one thing like that, it doesn’t imply they’re good. I understand how good Reinier is. I additionally know the place his weaknesses are however I do know from an MMA standpoint why he’s so profitable and why he’s so good.”
The main focus turns again to de Ridder and his struggle after Aung La N Sang will get by means of his personal on Friday, and he’s excited for the following chapter in his life.
In fact, he’s not oblivious to the widespread trope involving retirement the place MMA fighters notoriously cling up the gloves solely to inevitably compete once more.
That’s why he’s not completely shutting the door on one other struggle, however Aung La N Sang is fairly resolved that is his final one.
“I’m 99 % certain,” Aung La N Sang stated with fun. “I’m 99 % certain that is it. As a result of I’m an MMA fighter.”
