Former two-division ONE MMA World Champion Aung La N Sang will close his 20-year professional career against Zebaztian Kadestam in a middleweight bout at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Friday, October 3, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Aung La N Sang faces a familiar opponent in his final contest, having developed a friendship with Kadestam since 2019 when both fighters held ONE Championship titles. The 40-year-old Myanmar legend views the matchup as the ideal conclusion to his career, facing a respected friend willing to engage in an exciting contest.
"He's a good guy. I really like him, and I know he's very good. And it will be a fun fight for the fans, right? We're gonna bang, and we're gonna put on a show," Aung La N Sang said. "At the end of the day, he's gotta take care of him and his family, and I gotta take care of me and my family as well. And the fans are in for a treat because neither one of us is gonna back down."
Kadestam brings a three-fight winning streak into his middleweight debut, including a TKO victory over Roberto Soldic. The former welterweight champion owns a 93 percent finishing rate across 15 career victories, matching Aung La N Sang's own impressive finishing percentage.
Aung La N Sang acknowledges the size and power differential will favor him at middleweight, though he recognizes Kadestam's preparation with larger training partners at Legacy Gym and Allstars Training Center.
"I'm gonna hit a lot harder than a welterweight, that's for sure. My bones are harder than a welterweight," Aung La N Sang said. "But at the same time, we've talked before and he gets heavier than me. Maybe not a good weight, but still, he gets heavier than me, and he's training with big guys like [Alexander] Gustafsson, so I think he'll be alright."
The Myanmar icon has studied his opponent extensively and identifies grappling as Kadestam's primary weakness, though Aung La N Sang plans to keep the fight standing to deliver an entertaining performance.
"He's good everywhere. His defense is good. His offense [is good], he can do everything. Maybe his grappling is his weakness. But I'm not grappling, so … we're gonna have a show on our hands," Aung La N Sang said.
Aung La N Sang became Myanmar's first world champion in any sport when he captured the middleweight title in June 2017. He later added the light heavyweight championship to his resume, compiling 30 career victories with a 93 percent finishing rate.
Given both fighters' finishing ability and willingness to exchange strikes, Aung La N Sang expects a definitive conclusion to his career.
"Someone on the floor, that's the only way [it can end]. That's the only way we can honor our friendship and honor each other as fighters, as warriors," Aung La N Sang said.
