"I want to be the champion again" - Aung La N Sang addresses potential fight with his friend Anatoly Malykhin 

Aung La N Sang knows that when it comes to fighting, it's best to treat it like business, rather than take things personally. As such, the former two-division MMA world champion understands he must set personal relationships aside if he wants to reclaim his place atop the mountain.

This coming Sept. 6, 'The Burmese Python' will take on the undefeated Shamil Erdogan at ONE 168: Denver inside the Ball Arena.

Another victory will extend his winning streak to four, and perhaps earn him a world title shot with the current middleweight MMA kingpin Anatoly Malykhin.

However, Aung La sees a moral dilemma considering his affinity for the affable Russian giant. The 39-year-old veteran revealed in a South China Morning Post interview:

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"Let's be honest. I'm in the middleweight division, and my goal is to be the good champion one day, right? And, of course, you don't want to fight your friend, right?"

Still, at the end of the day, Aung La is the consummate professional and wouldn't mind setting that friendship aside if given the opportunity. He added:

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"But, I don't know right now. If the promotion needs a fight that needs to happen, it will happen. But I'm not pushing for it, but I want to be the champion again."

Watch Aung La N Sang's SCMP MMA interview in its entirety:

Aung La N Sang insists Shamil Erdogan is his top priority

While reclaiming his throne is the ultimate goal for Aung La N Sang, he knows not to get too ahead of himself.

For one, he must first get past a rampaging challenger who has yet to taste defeat in nine MMA bouts.

'The Burmese Python' told ONE:

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"The longest-reigning champ, the most title defenses, and on a four-winning streak should get the title [shot], but really nothing matters more than Shamil."

Tickets for ONE 168: Denver are available via Ticketmaster.

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