Former two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang will finally share the Circle with one of his longtime idols, Yushin “Thunder” Okami at ONE 163: Akimoto vs. Petchtanong inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, November 19.

The former middleweight and light heavyweight king is laser-focused, as he has been vying for an opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the Japanese MMA icon for the past few years.

“I feel like I have a mission now. As a fighter, nothing is certain until you sign on the dotted lines. For me to get the contract signed and ready to go, it feels like I’m on a mission now,” the 37-year-old said.

Aung La N Sang vs Yushin Okami bout is expected to be enthralling

Though he has had to wait for the guts of three years to get this match, the Burmese fighter has kept his skills sharp in the interim with two World Title fights, a sensational knockout win, and a trilogy showdown to his name. The most recent of the lot was his third meeting with former middleweight king Vitaly Bigdash in February. 

Although the Sanford MMA star was on the wrong end of a decision loss, he did enough to remind fans why he remains one of the most exciting fighters to watch.

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And he enters this contest against “Thunder” with the same mindset, or perhaps with an even stronger will to fight, given his respect and reverence for Okami’s stacked resume and experience.

Aung La N Sang is up for a tough mission

“He’s one of the Asian mixed martial artists I looked up to in the last ten years, and he’s fought in different high-level organizations, so he’s a great one to test myself with,” the Florida-based athlete shared.

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Aung La N Sang’s mission – as he describes it – will be a tough one to complete, however. Okami is one of the best ever to lace up the 4-ounce gloves, and his 50-fight resume has shown he has the ability to extinguish any surprises “The Burmese Python” throws his way.

But the Myanmar martial artist can strike hard and fast. And with the supreme mission to reclaim his ONE Middleweight World Title in his sights, he will do everything he can to leave Singapore with a victory over his idol on November 19.