Reece
McLaren believes his latest win over Yong Hu
warrants a long overdue title shot in ONE
Championship.
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McLaren returned to action after a year on Friday, scoring a
split-decision win over Hu at
One on Prime Video 22. The win saw “Lightning” bounce back from
a unanimous decision loss against Kairat
Akhmetov and better his promotional record to 10-6. The
Australian veteran believes he is at a point in his career where he
is never too far removed from the title picture.
“I feel that I am, at any stage, on any win, one step away from
that world title shot,” McLaren said at the post-fight press
conference. “Regardless of being ranked or not ranked. I’ve been in
ONE now for nearly nine years, [with] 10 wins. I was meant to fight
for the flyweight (135-pound) belt back in 2016. You know what I
mean? So it’s been a long run.”
“It’s been a long journey, man. I feel like I’ve paid my dues. It’s
time to start getting appreciated for what we do here in ONE, the
best flyweights in the world are in ONE Championship. I have been
saying that for years.”
Sitting above McLaren on the flyweight ladder is former foe
Danny
Kingad. Kingad beat McLaren via split decision in their initial
encounter in 2019. While McLaren welcomes the opportunity to avenge
the controversial loss, the Australian isn’t willing to wait for
anyone.
“I think everyone knows I won that fight,” McLaren said. “I think
he’s [Kingad] been hiding up in the mountains ever since I’ve been
calling for that fight. Like I said, I’m not here to wait in any
line. I’m not here to play any game. I want that belt, man. I want
my flyweight belt.”