"Everything MMA is pulsating through my veins" - Reece McLaren hyped for long-awaited return at ONE Fight Night 22
Fourth-ranked ONE Championship flyweight mixed martial arts contender 'Lightning' Reece McLaren of Australia recently made a shift in his training camp that he believes will help take his game to the next level.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is known for his high-level submissions. He enlisted the aid of Muay Thai legend 'The Gunslinger' John Wayne Parr at Boonchu Gym to help with his striking. But now, the 32-year-old Aussie star says he has since left Boonchu to find a more well-rounded gym to train at.
This has led McLaren to Queensland's CMBT Training Center, where 'Lightning' says there is a greater focus on the wider MMA skill set.
Speaking to ONE Championship in a recent interview, McLaren talked about the move in gyms, and what it means for his career moving forward.
'Lightning' said:
"It was like a turning point. Personally, I really had to focus on myself and that's what I had committed to this year, committing to my own training. And again, that was the irony, I'm just not a striker. So, it's made us take the MMA journey back down the road a little bit and focus on actual MMA. Everything that is MMA is pulsating through my veins. I'm so excited to be back training MMA full time."
At his best, McLaren is one of the most dangerous MMA grapplers on the ONE Championship roster. The 32-year-old has earned a reputation as a ruthless finisher when it comes to the grappling arts.
He will need all of those skills to get past his next test.
Reece McLaren to face Chinese star 'Wolf Warrior' Hu Yong at ONE Fight Night 22
'Lightning' Reece McLaren will return to action in May against Chinese standout 'Wolf Warrior' Hu Yong.
The two lock horns at ONE Fight Night 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova on Prime Video, which broadcasts live from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free, on U.S. primetime via Amazon Prime Video on Friday, May 3rd.