Former two-division ONE World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang is gearing up for the last mixed martial arts bout of his professional career, and he is determined to retire with a bang.

The Myanmar sports icon is scheduled to collide with ex-welterweight MMA king Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in a middleweight showdown at ONE Fight Night 36, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 3.

Though he is only a few short weeks away from his retirement match, Aung La N Sang isn’t feeling too anxious. Truth be told, the Myitkyina native feels “at peace” with his decision.

While some fans may be disappointed to hear the news, Aung La N Sang knows deep down that his decision to retire is the correct one.

For starters, “The Burmese Python” is a father of four, so he wants to spend more time with his family. But also, after training professional athletes and young children for the past several years, he wants to focus his efforts on building the warriors of tomorrow.

He said:

“My kids are getting older, and I gotta put time into my kids and the next generation. I’ve been coaching a lot too, so I’m gonna do the right thing.”

Aung La N Sang also knows that Father Time isn’t on his side, especially in the all-encompassing sport of mixed martial arts.

Throughout the course of his 20-year professional career, “The Burmese Python” has accomplished some amazing feats.

Not only did he capture both the ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Titles, but the two-division king also became the first person in Myanmar’s history to become a World Champion in any sport.

But during that span, Aung La N Sang has also earned his battle scars. In fact, since making his ONE Championship debut in June 2014, he has absorbed nearly 900 significant blows to the head, body, and legs.

Fortunately, “The Burmese Python” is still in good health – and he wants to keep it that way. However, at 40 years old, he admits that his best days as a mixed martial artist competing at the elite level are in the rearview mirror.

He offered:

“There’s only so many significant shots to the head you can take. In the fight, I don’t give a crap, you know? But the time is coming, and the time is near, and it’s okay. I’m at peace with it.

“Father Time is undefeated, and it’s okay. I have so much passion in MMA that there are other things I can do. And I can really invest my time and grow the next generation.”

First, he’ll have one last dance in the ring, and this battle of former ONE World Champions is the perfect swan song for Aung La N Sang, who is thrilled to stand toe-to-toe with a fierce competitor and friend. Plus, the venue is a stone’s throw away from his native Myanmar, so plenty of his compatriots are expected to be in attendance.

For “The Burmese Python,” this is truly a dream scenario, and he is highly motivated to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

He said:

“I’m very excited. I wanted this, and I imagined this. I dreamed this, and it’s happening, so it’s going to mean the world to me to put on a great show in Lumpinee [Stadium].”

Aung La N Sang Reveals Post-Retirement Plans

Following his retirement match at ONE Fight Night 36 on Friday, October 3, Aung La N Sang won’t be taking a family vacation or even disappearing from the MMA scene.

Instead, the former two-division ONE World Champion will be putting the finishing touches on Python MMA, his new gym that he plans to open just a few weeks later.

Aung La N Sang has always wanted to open his own facility, and he is ecstatic to see his vision finally come to life.

“The Burmese Python” said:

“It’s gonna be an MMA gym. It’s gonna be something that I’m passionate about, and it’s gonna be focused toward the next generation. You know, the kids. I’m already training my son and my nephew, and their friends, and they’re doing really good.”

Python MMA will be located in Lake Worth, Florida, and the emphasis will be on developing children’s martial arts skills and cultivating amateur fighters. If any of those budding young athletes decide to enter the pro ranks, they’ll ideally move to Kill Cliff FC, where the Myanmar legend will also hold coaching duties.

While most professional MMA fighters would feel emotional heading into the final battle of their careers, Aung La N Sang is quite the opposite. He has made countless friends in the martial industry, etched his name in the history books, and created several lasting moments that have inspired a generation.

If anything, the Myanmar sports icon feels grateful, and he is getting ready for the next incredible chapter of his life.

He said:

“I feel blessed. There’s such a big future ahead of me, you know? I’m not sad. I’m very grateful for the memories and the experience. But to me, it’s not what makes me who I am. I still get to live my life and I still get to enjoy it, and I still get to do what I love. To me, that’s more important than anything else.”