5 Stunning Submissions That Brought Our Heroes To Yangon

ONE Championship is on its way back to Yangon, Myanmar for a night of golden opportunities.

The world’s most exciting martial arts action will once again be on display at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium on Friday, 23 February.

Myanmar’s foremost sports hero and ONE Middleweight World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang will headline the event, as he challenges Brazilian powerhouse Alexandre “Bebezao” Machado for the vacant ONE Light Heavyweight World Title.

While both talents are known for their BJJ prowess, they will not be the only submission wizards in action. There will be plenty more. To help you get ready for the big night, here are five impressive submissions from the heroes you will be seeing in Myanmar.

“The Burmese Python” Constricts “The Panther”

Aung La N Sang was tasked with a seemingly insurmountable challenge the last time he competed in Yangon, as he went up against four-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing heavyweight world champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani in the promotion’s first-ever Open Weight Super-Bout at ONE: HERO’S DREAM in November.

The sheer size and weight of “The Panther” kept the Myanmar icon on his back for much of the opening round. Once they got back to their feet, however, Aung La N Sang was able to lock in a guillotine choke. Ngalani quickly powered his way out of it, and a quick transition by “The Burmese Python” into an armbar proved futile in the face of Ngalani’s power.

Like a true python, Aung La N Sang would keep himself wrapped around the fatigued Ngalani. As they got back to their feet, he went for another guillotine. This time, he would not let go, and “The Panther” was forced to tap out.

Sexton’s Incredible Reverse Triangle Keylock

Ariel “Tarzan” Sexton is on a three-bout win streak, all of which have come by finish. The first win of that streak, however, happened to be the quickest and quite arguably the most impressive. In his bout against Russia’s Anvar Alizhanov at ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (BEIJING) in December 2014, the Costa Rican displayed resilience early on.

Alizhanov floored Sexton with a huge right, and then pounced for the finish. “Tarzan,” however, was able to recover, and soon thrived in his element. He controlled his opponent on the ground, neutralized the Russian’s strikes, and transitioned into several advantageous positions, including the mount, where he dropped ground strikes.

Eventually, the Russian would give up his back, which would be the beginning of his downfall. Sexton locked Alizhanov in a half nelson, and then transitioned to a reverse triangle. Once he was securely in position, Sexton twisted Alizhanov’s arm, which forced him to wisely submit.

Sexton meets Ev Ting next at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

Ev Ting Quickly Taps A Former World Champion

Ev Ting has a proven knack for finishing his matches, as nine of his 14 professional wins have come by way of stoppage. The Malaysian-bred Kiwi’s quickest submission victory came against inaugural ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario at ONE: TIGERS OF ASIA in October 2015.

Action was fast and furious right from the opening bell, as Banario followed up a kick with a single-leg takedown. The Filipino would put on the pressure, but “E.T.” cleverly carved out some space between him and the former world champ.

Banario would again shoot for a takedown after evading a punch, but Ting masterfully caught his opponent’s neck in a guillotine choke. “The Rock” would try, but fail to escape the hold. Ting locked it in deep, securing the tap in just 56 seconds.

“E.T.” will draws Sexton in Myanmar next.

Dae Hwan Kim Silences Kevin Belingon

In March 2014, then-unbeaten warrior “Ottogi” Dae Hwan Kim made a thunderous promotional debut. The South Korean clashed with top contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon at ONE: WAR OF NATIONS, and soon silenced his opponent.

Both combatants, known for their explosive talent, started slowly, as the first minute and a half was a feeling-out period. Once the action picked up, however, there was no turning back. Belingon gained an early advantage with a takedown, and later connected with some significant strikes once they got back to their feet.

Kim threw a spinning back fist that narrowly missed Belingon, and just like that, the bout was back on the mat. “The Silencer” was still on the offensive, unleashing ground and pound before transitioning to a bulldog choke. “Ottogi” somehow managed to power his way out of the hold, and took the Filipino’s back for a rear-naked choke. The hold was deep, and with 21 seconds left, Belingon was forced to tap.

“Ottogi” meets Japan’s Daichi Takenaka next in Yangon.

Saw Min Min’s Tournament-Clincher 

In June 2017, at ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION, the finals of the ONE Myanmar Flyweight Tournament 2016 Championship saw two young contenders going head-to-head in front of their home crowd. Saw Min Min, in particular, was stepping into the cage for the second time that night to determine the tournament winner.

Both competitors started the bout by measuring each other with low leg kicks. It was Shwe Kyaung Thar who would get the early advantage, as he took down Saw Min Min after catching a head kick.

Saw Min Min, however, turned the tables by attempting a rear-naked choke. The hold was not locked-in well, and his adversary managed to evade the attempt. Still, Saw Min Min was determined to end the bout right then and there.

He eventually found his way into a guillotine choke. Despite the best efforts of Shwe Kyaung Thar, he was unable to escape the lock, giving Saw Min Min his second consecutive finish of the night to claim the tournament championship. 

Saw Min Min will meet Ye Thway Ne at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD in an all-Myanmar showdown.