Fan Rong (19-3) doesn’t subscribe to the notion that his upcoming foe, Aung La N Sang (29-13), is the gatekeeper of the ONE Championship’s middleweight division.
“King Kong Warrior” faces the former two-division ONE world champion at the promotion’s historic U.S. debut event, “ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III” on Prime Video, this Friday, May 5, at the sold-out 1STBANK Center in Colorado.
“The Burmese Python” has become known as the stacked weight class’s gatekeeper since losing his middleweight and light heavyweight straps in consecutive fights in 2020 and 2021, and he has gone on record to say he’s happy with the role.
Despite his comfort, Fan believes the title is a bad sign for the 37-year-old.
“I think he’s on the level that a little bit above a gatekeeper. I don’t know why he thinks himself that way,” he said.
“I mean, he was a champion just a few years ago, but keeping that mindset is dangerous for him. It could be the lack of confidence, maybe.”
Aung La N Sang has reeled off nine knockouts in his 18 fights inside the ONE circle, while never succumbing to a one himself, lending creed to Fan’s opinion that the Myanmar sporting icon is more than simply a gatekeeper.
For his part, the Chinese powerhouse has only seen the final bell twice across his 22 fights professional fights. And despite his recognition of N Sang’s talents, he plans to be the first to finish him.
“I have barely seen him getting knocked out. He gets finished with submissions a lot, but he got a good chin,” Fan said.
“But he’s also never faced someone with my power. So, I’m probably going to be the one who rock that chin this time.”
In Fan’s view, “The Burmese Python’s” recent knockout wins over legends Gilberto Galvao and Yushin Okami have cemented his spot at the front of the middleweight world title queue.
Because of that, he is highly motivated to score an emphatic victory in Colorado and secure himself a shot at Reinier de Ridder‘s crown.
“Aung La is definitely the second-best fighter of our division. I still don’t know why he thinks himself a gatekeeper, but I’m sure that I deserve this title shot after winning over him,” Fan said.
“No matter what, I’m coming for him with full steam. There won’t be anything stressing me out, and nothing will make me take it easy on him.”
