The 40-year-old Myanmar icon’s final performance showcased the finishing ability that defined his two-decade career. His 31st victory came in front of Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium crowd, providing the explosive closure he promised for his retirement contest.
The opening round revealed two former champions showing mutual respect through cautious striking exchanges. Both understood the knockout power standing across from them, creating tactical hesitation that disappeared once the second round began.
Aung La N Sang transformed into the aggressive finisher Myanmar fans remembered. His short punches found their target repeatedly, marking Kadestam’s face before breaking his defensive structure. The Swede retreated to the ropes with nowhere left to go.
The finishing sequence came quickly. Aung La N Sang unleashed combinations of punches and knees that forced Kadestam to shell up, then landed the decisive right hand that dropped his opponent near the corner. The referee stopped the contest at 2:20 of round two, with Aung La N Sang earning a $50,000 performance bonus for the finish.
His journey to this moment began far from championship glory. The former migratory beekeeper worked across America before dedicating himself to martial arts after earning his Agriculture Science degree from Andrews University in Michigan. His professional debut in 2005 started a career built almost entirely on stoppage victories.
June 2017 marked the defining moment when he defeated Vitaly Bigdash for the ONE middleweight world championship, becoming Myanmar’s first-ever world champion in any sport. The nation celebrated their new sports hero whose impact extended beyond athletic achievement.
His 2018 knockout of Alexandre Machado for the ONE light heavyweight world title established him as a rare dual-division titleholder. That accomplishment cemented his status as Myanmar’s greatest mixed martial artist.
The Hall of Fame induction at ONE 173 in Tokyo on November 16 provides fitting recognition for an athlete who transformed his country’s combat sports landscape while building one of the sport’s most respected championship legacies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri4u3cLfdbs
