Burmese Middleweight Aung La Nsang Excited to be Fighting in Yangon Again | MMAWeekly.com

The growth of MMA in South East Asian countries like the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand has been well documented, but Myanmar seems to have slipped under the radar. It might not be home to many high level training facilities, but the public appetite for the sport there is virtually insatiable.

ONE Championship will hold its third ever event in Yangon this week and it looks set to be the biggest yet. Behind the surge in interest of the sport is Burmese middleweight Aung La Nsang who will be fighting in his birthplace for the second time on Friday night.

La Nsang grew up a stone’s throw from Thuwunna Stadium where ONE: State of Warriors will take place. He later moved to the U.S., which is where the 31-year-old picked up his martial arts skills, but has fond memories of a childhood in Yangon.

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“When I grew up here, I didn’t speak English. Fighting in Myanmar has been a dream of mine. To be able to do it again is an awesome feeling.”

La Nsang’s first fight in Yangon was last year when he headlined a ONE Championship event at the Thuwunna Stadium for the first time. The Burmese fighter won by submission and it is a moment he will never forget.

“Last time the crowd was crazy. I have never had that kind of reception ever. I’ve never seen a crowd that big and that electric. It was an amazing feeling.”

Having started out fighting in and around the Baltimore area, La Nsang is not used to having an entire nation behind him. Competing in America helped give him the skillset to succeed with ONE Championship, but it wasn’t until he returned to Myanmar that the Burmese middleweight felt fans truly embrace him.

“Throughout the week it’s an amazing feeling having people behind my back and knowing that I have people cheering for me. I’ve never had this kind of reception anywhere for the last 10 years I’ve been fighting.”

La Nsang will be taking on once beaten Polish fighter Michal Pasternak on Friday night (local time). The Burmese fighter has tasted defeat more times than his opponent, but believes these early setbacks helped to make him stronger.

“I took a lot of losses early in my career, but you have to keep going and pushing. If your goals are realistic and attainable then go for it.”

La Nsang studied agriculture science and spent time working on a farm. He’s now a full-time fighter, but credits this experience with giving him the diligence and discipline required to succeed in MMA.

“One thing I learnt from farming is its work ethic. You reap what you sow and if you don’t put in the work you’re not going to get the benefits.”

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A few years ago it would have been unthinkable that one of the biggest sporting events in Asia would head to Yangon. La Nsang’s outspoken support for the Kachin State would also have potentially made him persona non grata in Myanmar, but the country’s transition from military dictatorship to democracy has opened up all sorts of possibilities.

La Nsang is delighted to see the rapid progress being made in his homeland and hopes the country will start to produce more internationally recognized stars on the sporting stage and beyond.

“It makes me feel very good. I think they deserve it. The people in Myanmar are genuinely good people. This positive change is going to positively affect the next generation. I feel like it’s something that the people deserve and good people will shine when the country opens up and gets more progressive.”

Some of the most iconic fighters in the world have a symbiotic relationship with their hometown crowd. When Ricky Hatton boxed in Manchester or Arturo Gatti stepped under the lights in Atlantic City, there was an electric atmosphere in which the frenzied fans would imbue the fighters with energy.

La Nsang is developing a similar relationship with the Yangon crowd. After getting a rousing reception for his first fight at the Thuwunna Stadium, he is hoping the fans will play their part at ONE: State of Warriors.

“The buzz this time is going to be electric. People are going to be going crazy. It’s an honor for me to be able to represent my country and I’m sure my country is going to bring it too.”