With Vitaly Bigdash Out, Aung La N Sang Rematches Reinier de Ridder Atop One on TNT 4

“The Burmese Python” Is BACK
Aung La N Sang FIGHTS for Myanmar! See the ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion in action NEXT WEDNESDAY on TNT! @AungLANsang @StephenTrumble @tntdrama @BleacherReport @BR_MMA @brlive #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT4 pic.twitter.com/FTjXc2WaSe

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 23, 2021

The upcoming One Championship show has just experienced a massive shakeup.

ESPN first reported on Friday that Vitaly Bigdash (10-2) has been forced out of his trilogy contest against Aung La N Sang (26-11, 1 NC) after testing positive for COVID-19. The two were looking to settle the score on the headliner of One on TNT 4 on April 28, which will be held inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. In Bigdash’s stead will be another rival of Aung La, as Reinier de Ridder (13-0) will get a chance to wrest Aung La’s 225-pound throne away as well. A promotion official has since confirmed this news to Sherdog, while also mentioning that de Ridder will have to pass a PCR test for COVID-19 before the booking is set in stone.

The two previously met at One Championship: Inside the Matrix in October 2020, and de Ridder remained unbeaten while boosting his finish rate to 92 percent by hitting an early choke on the Burmese champ. “The Dutch Knight” introduced himself to the One audience by putting away Fan Rong with a brabo choke in 75 seconds, and two subsequent wins over Gilberto Galvao and Leandro Ataides – the latter was his first decision win – led to a title shot for Aung La’s middleweight (205 pounds) crown. De Ridder captured that with ease, and he will be looking to become a two-division champ by taking both of Aung La’s belts.

Aung La had a seven-fight win streak, including six finishes, snapped at the hands of de Ridder last year. At the time, the two-division champ won the 205-pound strap from Bigdash, and went up to light heavyweight – also known as cruiserweight to some at 225 pounds – to clobber Alexandre Machado in 56 seconds to capture the vacant belt. Since then, Aung La has shifted back and forth between divisions, defending the belts against challengers like Ken Hasegawa and Brandon Vera.

One on TNT 4 is to be a live event held in Singapore on April 28, with a new headliner pitting Aung La N Sang against Reinier de Ridder for the 225-pound title. Drawing the co-main assignment will be Eddie Alvarez on a quick turnaround at 170 pounds against Rae Yoon Ok, as both competed on April 7 although the latter’s match was tape-delayed. Rounding out the main card will be a heavyweight rumble when “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane squares off against the unbeaten Kirill Grishenko.