It was another successful homecoming for the “Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang.
Myanmar’s very own MMA hero had his arm raised in front of his fellow countrymen at a roaring Thuwunna Indoor Stadium, as he earned a unanimous decision victory over former light heavyweight contender, Michael Pasternak, in the local main event of ONE: STATE OF WARRIORS.
Though the fan favorite was clearly the better fighter on the night, Pasternak presented a constant threat throughout the course of the three-round middleweight affair.
After an initial feeling out period to open up the first round, Aung La N Sang — a product of Maryland-based Crazy 88 MMA — landed solid leg kicks and beautifully countered Pasternak’s wild punches with sharp crosses and overhand rights, eventually opening a cut near the Polish fighter’s eye.
Notably, at the four-minute mark, Pasternak — a Polish ADCC Champion who trains out of Okninski MMA — rushed in with one of his wild combinations and ate a few strikes on his way to tackling the hometown hero. But seconds later, the “Burmese Python” got right back up and clinched his opponent to end the stanza.
This would be somewhat of a theme. In the second stanza, Pasternak immediately ran at N Sang in hopes of securing a takedown and, finally, a minute into the round, he pulled off a double leg. The Myanmar snake proved to be slippery, however, as he slid out, went for a rear-naked choke and, later, surrendered the submission hold for a chance to deliver some ground and pound strikes.
While Aung La N Sang seemed to be in control, a fatigued Pasternak made it to his feet and exchanged punches with the hometown hero before scoring a desperate takedown. But with nearly 70 seconds left, he could not do much other than maintain top position and attack the body.
By the third round, a heavy-breathing Pasternak peppered N Sang with a sporadic jab, but his Myanmar opponent continued connecting with his much more advanced counter punching.
The crowd favorite kept stuffing takedowns and, with two minutes left, put Pasternak on his back and dominated him from side control where he bided his time, maintained position, and dropped elbows and the occasional knee when the opportunity presented itself.
Aung La N Sang might have gotten the victory, but, as he told Peter Davis after the decision was read, he has his eyes firmly on Vitaly Bigdash’s ONE Middleweight World Championship Belt.
“Myanmar wants the world championship title,” he declared, much to the crowd’s delight. However, whether or not he gets a title shot next remains to be seen.
In the meantime, he improves his record to 19-9 and is now riding a four-fight win streak. As for Pasternak, who lost in his middleweight ONE debut, he drops his second straight and falls to 11-2.
