“I’m trying to be the best version of myself” - Aung La N Sang on dealing with pressure

Based on prior experience, Aung La N Sang revealed how he deals with pressure ahead of critical fights, such as the one he’s heading to this November at ONE 163.

The Burmese icon is preparing to make his comeback in a thrilling middleweight matchup with MMA pioneer ‘Thunder’ Yushin Okami, to determine who is indeed Asia's No.1 middleweight.

However, as Aung La nears the end of his training camp, the pressure is on him to showcase what he’s been working on in preparation for this fight.

Noting the anxiety and tension fighters usually feel before fights, the former two-division champion was asked by Tom Taylor of SCMP MMA how he deals with the pressure of putting on a high-level performance.

The 37-year-old Aung La responded:

“The training is what gives me that. My training and the work that I put in, is what makes the pressure not so much of a pressure. If I can honestly look at myself and tell myself that I did everything I'm supposed to, then there's no pressure.”

He also added:

“What more can you do in life than the best that you can get? Besides that, I don't really have pressure, I don't really care. I don't really, there's no pressure in my mind. I'm just trying to be the best version of myself.”

Catch the full interview below:

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Aung La N Sang admits he needs to be a more well-rounded fighter ahead of ONE 163 showdown

Aung La N Sang has a tough fight ahead of him at ONE 163. Facing another prolific grappler brings back bad memories but ‘The Burmese Python’ is confident he has the tools in his arsenal to mitigate the threat of takedowns.

The former middleweight and light heavyweight world champion lost both his titles to the current two-division king Reinier de Ridder on back-to-back occasions. In their first matchup in October 2020, ‘The Burmese Python’ was submitted early via rear-naked choke in the first round, surrendering the light heavyweight belt in the process.

Three months later, Aung La regrouped and made the right adjustments to defend his middleweight world title in their rematch at ONE on TNT 4. Unfortunately, the Burmese warrior fell short by a close margin, losing his second world title to De Ridder by decision.

Watch the fight below:

Speaking to SCMP MMA in the same interview, Aung La told Tom Taylor that he’s aware of his shortcomings and has been working on learning new skills so that fans can see a better version of himself:

“Well I need to get better, you know. I need to be more well-rounded and I need to be better in all aspects of mixed martial arts, you know. That’s the reason why I still compete, it’s because I want to keep growing and I want to keep evolving as a mixed martial artist.”