One Championship’s Aung La N Sang counting blessings – and kicking avocado trees – amid coronavirus uncertainty

Aung La N Sang was supposed to fly out to Singapore this week, ahead of a hastily-rearranged middleweight title defence against Vitaly Bigdash.

Amid the escalating global Covid-19 outbreak, One Championship’s “Infinity 1” card had already been moved from Jakarta, Indonesia, to the Asian MMA organisation’s home city, for what was going to be a behind-closed-doors event on April 10.

But then more upheaval struck, with the Singapore government placing a travel ban on all foreign visitors, which left the Florida-based Aung La stuck after an intense six-week training keep at Sanford MMA in Fort Lauderdale.

“Physically and mentally, I can still fight him on the 10th [of April]. My weight’s good,” he said. “I was over 105kg, something like that. Now I’m on weight for middleweight, so I’m good to go. But because of this, it’s going to be moved back to May 29.

“Supposedly in Manila, but we don’t know what’s gonna happen with the virus. I don’t know if we’re gonna be allowed to do that. Nothing’s confirmed. Just on the books they have a date set – May 29, Infinity 1. I’m supposed to be on that. I don’t know anything about the details right now, though.

“It’s a little bit frustrating but I take it as a blessing. It gives me a little more time. I’ll be sharper and I’ll be in better shape.”

“The Burmese Python” (26-10) had been training with Sanford teammate and One featherweight champion Martin Nguyen, who spends his camps living at Aung La’s house. But “The Situ-Asian” (13-3) has now flown back to Australia, with a reported fight against contender Thanh Le (11-2) up in the air.

“He was super disappointed,” said Aung La, who usually corners Nguyen and vice versa. “It’s actually his second training camp without a fight. He just wants to fight. He was supposed to fight Christian Lee as well [last November].

“It’s a shame for him. I’m at least with my family. There’s uncertainty for everybody, not just me. I’m sure there’s uncertainty for you, as well. Gotta stay strong and keep positive.”

With self-quarantining ramping up in the US, Aung La has been forced to resort to some unusual training methods – including kicking avocado trees in his back garden – to keep in shape, should the call come from One’s matchmakers.

“I had to upgrade. I’m kicking palm trees now,” he said, laughing. “I just improvise, and try to be creative. I think about what drills I could use in a fight, drills I could use in training, and just work on them.

“It depends what country and the government but all I’m saying is physically and mentally I can fight this weekend. Or next weekend. Or any weekend. I’m putting myself in the position. I’m in shape, my weight’s good, everything’s good. If anything opens up I’m ready to go.

“I can still meet up with [Sanford MMA trainer] Henri Hooft for one-on-one purposes. And my strength and conditioning coach Corey Peacock still sends me programmes that I can do with body weights and minimal equipment. I would like access to all my training partners and equipment we have at Sanford. But we don’t have that luxury right now. And that’s OK. Im sure everybody is in the same boat, so it’s an even playing field.”

Aung La is a national hero in his home country if Myanmar with legions of Burmese fans on social media, where he posts inspirational messages imploring people to follow good hygiene practises and stay inside during the pandemic.

“Just stay strong, this thing’s gonna pass as well and it’s either gonna make us stronger or it’s gonna break you. So don’t let it break you. Let’s go,” he told the Post.

“Take it as a positive – because of this, the world has become closer, more sympathetic towards each other. We’re in it together. We’re all a human race. Anybody can get it. You can get it, I can get it, somebody down the street can get it. Somebody on the other side of the world can get it. We’re a human race fighting something. This can bringing us together.”

The extra downtime is bittersweet for Aung La – at least he gets to spend more time with his newborn daughter.

“I have a two-month old baby, a four year old toddler as well,” he says. “I’m just teaching them, and also I have a lot of friends that I reach out to and talk to, and watching my shows on Netflix like Tiger King. I take this as blessing – a time I can really connect with my daughter, get things right with my wife and be around the house a little bit more, so it’s all good.”