- George Chung
- Nov 26, 2024
- 2 min read
Reece McLaren is laser-focused on his lifelong dream: the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship. With the legendary Demetrious Johnson retiring and leaving the title up for grabs, McLaren sees his chance to rise to the occasion. But before he can punch his ticket to the gold, the Aussie fighter must conquer a colossal challenge—current ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred "The Monkey God" Brooks—on Friday, December 6, at ONE Fight Night 26 on Prime Video.
McLaren, known as "Lightning," isn’t convinced Brooks can handle the move up to flyweight. “Every time [Brooks] talked about coming up to fight DJ, he kept talking about coming up to flyweight. I would constantly be telling him he’s too small, too short. I’m standing by that. You should stay at strawweight, bro,” McLaren said.
Brooks has dominated the strawweight division, but McLaren believes things will be different at flyweight. He openly criticized Brooks’ style, labeling it as overly reliant on wrestling. “I kind of feel he is a little bit one-dimensional with his wrestling offense. He moves lots, and then he always looks to try and wrestle,” McLaren said.
Despite only having a four-week camp, McLaren has promised fans fireworks. "He’s probably not gonna be fighting the best Reece, but he’s definitely as hell going to be fighting the most violent. I can guarantee violence,” the Aussie declared. McLaren aims to make Brooks look like an amateur while delivering a highlight-reel performance for the global audience.
But McLaren isn’t underestimating Brooks’ credentials. He recognizes Brooks’ status as a reigning World Champion and the opportunity a win represents. “He is a current World Champion and a World Champion for a reason. I cannot deny his skill. He is an awesome fighter, I think,” McLaren said.
This matchup is more than just another fight for McLaren; it’s a stepping stone toward fulfilling his destiny. With the flyweight title now vacant, McLaren is determined to solidify his position as the next contender. “With DJ retiring, I think for sure I’ll put my name way up at the top for a shot for the vacant belt coming off a good win,” he asserted.
McLaren knows the stakes. A victory over a World Champion like Brooks would catapult him into the conversation for the coveted flyweight belt. “I feel like I should be fighting for a World Title. If that’s not the case, then this stamps my name on that top-tier list for the next title contender by taking out a current World Champion,” he added.
The stage is set for an explosive showdown at ONE Fight Night 26, airing live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Friday, December 6. The event is free for Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. With everything on the line, McLaren promises nothing short of violence and glory in his pursuit of gold.
