There is going to be an explosive middle-weight MMA showdown between former two-division ONE World Champion Aung La N Sang and the undefeated Shamil Erdogan at ONE 168: Denver on U.S. primetime on Friday, September 6. Erdogan is looking to go 2-0 in ONE and extend his undefeated streak to 10 with a win against the Burmese legend. 

The Russian athlete has already put in more than 20 years of hard work to reach this stage of his career and he is looking to reach the pinnacle of the world’s largest martial arts organization. He admitted his desire for the future and even complimented his latest opponent.  The Kremost Fight Club representative said, “Aung La N Sang is one of the best. He has a legacy. He was a two-weight champion in his time. I hope that a win over him will open the door for me to a championship belt.”

He also spoke about his desire for a future fight with three-sport World Champion Anatoly Malykhin. He said, “I would like to face Anatoly Malykhin. I have a good relationship with him, and I know him from the times when we competed in freestyle wrestling. But he is now the champion in my weight class, and if it stays this way, our fight will be inevitable.” 

On that note, let’s see the details of the upcoming fight with Aung La and why he desires another bout with Anatoly.

Shamil Erdogan’s upcoming fight and his goals to compete against Anatoly Malykhin

While his opponent boasts 15 wins across his ONE tenure that includes reigning over the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in MMA, Erdogan is an accomplished fighter in his own right. A world-class grappler with amazing takedown skills, the 34-year-old possesses great athleticism and technical striking prowess that has helped him stay perfect in his professional MMA career.

If he can secure a victory over Aung La N Sang at ONE 168, he will no doubt raise his stock in the middleweight MMA division and can announce himself as a serious player. Shamil Erdogan is eying the top of his weight class in ONE Championship and could put himself in consideration for a shot at gold if he beats the streaking Aung La. For the Dagestani fighter, facing Anatoly is a dream fight against someone he respects. He knows how important the next fight is and what it means for his world title aspirations. 

However, he should expect a tough fight against the Burmese star. The former two-division World Champion has stopped his last three opponents and has proven that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest levels of competition. 

Meanwhile, Malykhin is also busy because he is set to fight “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane at ONE 169: Atlanta on U.S. primetime on Friday, November 8.

Clash of Titans between “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane and Anatoly Malykhin

A battle between two heated rivals is set to take place at ONE 169: Atlanta. The three-division MMA King ‘Sladkiy’ is putting his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title at stake against the Senegalese sensation, “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane. The epic event is taking place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 8, 2024.

Malykhin has an undefeated record of 14-0 with a whopping 100% finish rate and he has already established himself as one of the top P4P fighters in MMA. With his terrifying punching skills, the Russian superstar captured the ONE Light Heavyweight, undisputed Heavyweight, and Middleweight World Championships over his last three fights to cement his legacy in the sport. 

On the flip side, “Reug Reug” has used his overwhelming power and top-notch wrestling skills to rise through the ranks in the heavyweight MMA division. The 32-year-old is riding a four-fight win streak that includes his kickboxing debut at ONE Fight Night 23 last July. 

If Malykhin wins over Kane, he would further add to his already legendary career in the all-encompassing sport and can wait further for a new contender to emerge in the heavyweight division. It could open the door for Erdogan to issue a challenge to his compatriot in the middleweight division. 

What do you think about the matchups? Will Erdogan secure the title? Let us know in the comments below.