At ONE Fight Night 26 on Prime Video on Dec. 6, #4-ranked flyweight MMA contender Reece McLaren will welcome ONE Interim Strawweight MMA Champion Jarred Brooks to his division.
Looking ahead to their bout, “Lightning” believes Brooks’ decision to come up in weight will not go well for him.
“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 remarked to ONE.
More than size, McLaren doubts the mouthy American star has the well-rounded arsenal to compete among the flyweight elite.
As a strawweight, Brooks has utilized his wrestling to impose himself on opponents. But McLaren believes that won’t work at flyweight.
“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,” the Aussie said.
Their battle has massive implications for the stacked MMA bracket. Since Demetrious Johnson’s retirement, the title has remained vacant. So, the winner of McLaren vs. Brooks could move into position to challenge for the empty throne.
Although he accepted the match on short notice, “Lightning” is ready to show out on the global stage to state his case for contendership.
“I’m always trying to make everyone else look like an amateur and be the only pro of the night sort of thing. We both bring it. I’m going to try and bring it in as fit as I can within a four-week camp,” McLaren remarked.
“He’s probably not going to be fighting the best Reece, but he’s definitely as hell going to be fighting the most violent. I can guarantee violence.”
Even though he believes Brooks lacks the skill set to make his mark at flyweight, McLaren isn’t fully underestimating him ahead of ONE Fight Night 26.
“The Monkey God” holds ONE gold, after all, which is something that demands attention.
“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 stated.
“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.”
After years of missing his opportunity, “Lightning” is ready to seize his moment on Dec. 6.
He promises an entertaining match that he hopes will send him to the top of the division.
“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. Look, I think I was scheduled to fight for that title so long ago that that title still wears on me. So I kind of feel like that still needs to happen,” McLaren said.
“Securing [a World Title shot] would be a good affirmation, but winning that World Title would mean absolutely everything.”
ONE Fight Night 26 airs live on Friday, Dec. 6, on Prime Video to all U.S. and Canadian Amazon Prime subscribers at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST.