PINATUNAYAN ni Filipino-Australian Reece “Lightning” McLaren na karapat-dapat siyang maging top contender sa ONE Championship.
At sa nakalipas na limang buwan, sapat ang mga naitala niyang panalo para makamit ang karapatan na maging contender sa ONE FC flyweight title na tangan sa kasalukuyan ni Team Lakay star Geje Eustaquio.
Ngunit, bago ang inaasam na title fight, kailangan ni McLaren na magwagi laban kay Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada.
Nakatakdang magkaharap ang dalawa sa three-round flyweight affair bilang co-main event sa ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS sa Hulyo 7 sa Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium sa Guangzhou, China.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
“I do not really want to wait around,” pahayag ni McLaren. “The way I see it is – if you are feeling like you are the champ, then you should be able to beat anyone on any given day.
“My goal is to become the champ, and if I want to be the champ, then I have to be able to step up at any time and beat anyone. Champions train, losers complain,” aniya.
Matapos sumalang sa flyweight, higit na pinalakas ng 26-anyos Filipino-Australian dynamo, ang dibisyon sa ONE Championship 61.2-kilogram weight class, na hitik sa matitikas na fighter sa pangunguna ni Estaquio.
Sa harap ng nagbubunyig kababayan sa MOA Arena nitong Nobyembre, naitala ni McLaren ang kahanga-hangang Brabo choke para magapi si Anatpong Bunrad.
Nasundan niya ito sa arm-tringle choke na panalo kontra Malaysian star Gianni Subba.
“I will get my shot regardless. I will knock the other contenders down one by one until I get it. It is just a matter of time,” pahayag ni McLaren.
Tangan ni McLaren ang professional record na 19-8-2 sa pakikipagtuos kay Wada, dating DEEP flyweight titleholder, at tangan ang phenomenal eight-bout winning streak.
“He has had a lot of fights and he has a lot of experience. He has some awkward looking stand-up, and I think he has a really good ground game. “It is a really good match, and I think it is a really dangerous match. I am always excited for a challenge. Whoever the name, I am happy to buckle in, and get set and go,” aniya.
