Throwback Thursday: Aung La N Sang’s Life As A Beekeeper

Aung La N Sang celebrates his KO of Brandon Vera at ONE: CENTURY

Two-division ONE World Champion Aung La N Sang may be an iconic sports figure in Myanmar now, but many years ago, he was just a regular martial artist with a taste for honey.

Back in 2008, “The Burmese Python” was in the midst of developing his mixed martial arts career in the United States.

The Myanmar-bred athlete kept adding new tricks to his skill set, tested those techniques in competition, and experienced success on the American scene.

During this time, he also worked as a beekeeper for the Eisele Honey and Bee Pollination company in Felda, Florida.

View this post on Instagram

After college in 2008, I ending up working for Eisele Honey and Bee Pollination company. I lived in a small trailer park in Felda, Florida ???????? and worked as a beekeeper ????. I got stung almost everyday but I enjoyed it. I loved working outdoors, making honey ???? and pollinating almonds in California, cranberries in Wisconsin, blue berries in Michigan and orange ???? in Florida. The nomadic life style felt very carefree. However, I felt like my life was passing before me because my passion for MMA was taking a backseat while I worked as a beekeeper. So I had to give up this ???? life to pursue my passion ????. I’m super grateful for this journey and thankful my ex-boss Steve Eisele for hiring me and also for sending me these photos this morning.

A post shared by Aung La Nsang (@aunglansang) on

While Aung La N Sang enjoyed the security of a steady income and the nomadic lifestyle his full-time job as a beekeeper offered, his passion for the sport only intensified.

Ultimately, “The Burmese Python” decided to take a chance. He left his job as a beekeeper to pursue his dream of mixed martial arts superstardom.

It was a daring move, especially because many athletes travel down the same road. But fortunately for him, the move paid off.

Today, the 34-year-old is the ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, as well as Myanmar’s first World Champion in sporting history.

Let the Instagram post above serve as a reminder that you can always change your life’s journey and achieve your dreams if you work hard enough.

This may be a #ThrowbackThursday post, but now, let’s briefly look to the future.

ONE Championship would like to congratulate Aung La N Sang and his wife Katie on the birth of their daughter, San Seng Grace N Sang.

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