Reece McLaren
Now comes the big fight. Reece ‘Lightning’ McLaren, the Filipino-Australian Mixed Martial Artist, will get a crack at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship title when he challenges title-holder Bibiano ‘The Flash’ Fernandes next month.
The showdown between the Lightning versus the Flash is set December 2 as one of main events in the ‘ONE Championship: Age of Domination’ fight night to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“I am beyond excited, I can’t find the words to express myself,” Reece told Kalatas. “This is the pinnacle of any sport – to become a World Champion. This is a huge opportunity for me.”
It will be the third time that Reece, 25, will be fighting in Manila which he considers his second home. The rising MMA star (with 9-3 record) had stunned fight aficionados when he defeated the highly favoured Mark Striegl late last year. In April, he again won a stunning victory against the once undefeated Muin Gafurov.
Reece hails from Toowoomba in Queensland. TieBreaker Times describes him as having a “tremendous striking arsenal paired with a robust grappling skill set.”
The champion, Brazilian Bibiano ‘The Flash’, is seen as one of the best bantamweights in the world. He won the title in 2013 and has since been unbeaten inside the ONE Championship arena. Currently with a record of 19-3, The Flash had won his last 11 fights.
The main event will feature Filpino Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera defending his ONE Heavyweight Championship title against Japanese challenger Hideki Sekine.
Reece started fighting in his late teens as an amateur in the Australia Regional circuit. His specialty is Jujitsu. In 2010, he emerged as one of the rising respectable mix martial artists when he won his first professional bout against Bryce Monkovitch in the Fightworld Cup event. He had won his last three professional fights.
Reece (167.64 cm, 61.23 kg) is under the association of the Potential Unlimited Mixed Martial Arts. His nine wins on record include 2 Kos/TKOs; 5 Submissions; 2 Decisions.
