Aung La N Sang (29-13) is fine with being labelled the “gatekeeper” of ONE Championship’s middleweight division, but don’t expect him to settle into the role for too long.

“The Burmese Python” is preparing to face China’s Fan Rong (19-3) at “ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III” on Prime Video, which goes down on May 5, and the former two-division ONE world champion is planning to use the bout as a springboard toward reclaiming the middleweight throne.

The 37-year-old intends to prove that he is far from finished when he steps into the ONE circle at Colorado’s 1STBANK Center.

“I want to keep the gate before I storm back into my castle. I want to beat everybody. I want to beat everybody, and I want to get my title back,” he said.

“Being a gatekeeper, people think you’re washed up. People think you should hang it up. I want to show that it’s not (true).”

If becoming the divisional gatekeeper is what N Sang has to do in order to get back to a title shot, then he is prepared to walk that path.

If that is in fact his role, then the Myanmar MMA legend has done a sterling job so far. In his last two fights, he has turned away decorated veterans Yushin Okami and Gilberto Galvao inside a single round.

Another victory, especially in quick succession, could be enough to earn him a chance to reclaim the belt he previously held from June 2017 through October 2020.

“Everybody that comes through the door, I want to welcome them, I want to put on a statement, and I want to get everybody out of there until it’s time for me to get my title shot back,” he said.

“(A win over Fan) puts me right at the front door. It puts me right in that title shot. I mean, that’s the obvious thing.”

Having fought – and beaten – a who’s who of ONE Championship’s brightest stars since his debut way back in June 2014, N Sang is tired of callouts. Nowadays, he prefers to make himself undeniable by simply lining up opponents and then knocking them down.

Should the Kill Cliff FC representative keep his winning streak rolling at ONE Fight Night 10, then 2023 could be the year in which he climbs back up to the top of the middleweight mountain.

“I don’t need to call anybody out. It’s the only thing that makes sense. What else do you want me to do?” he asked.

“It’s up to ONE Championship, but I think I’m in line for (a title shot). And I believe this year, I’m going to get my belt back.”