Reece McLaren Calls for Demetrious Johnson to “Relinquish” Title; Demands Shot at ONE Gold

Reece McLaren is ready for a chance to claim the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title, and he wants it, with or without reigning king Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson as his opponent.

‘Lightning’ picked up his third win in four fights against China’s Hu Yong last weekend at ONE Fight Night 22 inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, to cement his #4-ranked spot in the stacked division. 

The split-decision victory stands as McLaren’s 10th win in ONE, and he believes he finally deserves his shot at 26.5 pounds of gold as a result.

Reece McLaren wants that flyweight title

“I feel that I am, at any stage, on any win, one step away from that World Title shot, regardless of being ranked or not ranked. I’ve been in ONE now for nearly nine years, [with] 10 wins,” he said.

“It’s been a long journey, man. I feel like I’ve paid my dues. The best flyweights in the world are in ONE Championship. I have been saying that for years,” he said.

The Aussie star has been one of the most consistent fighters in the promotion over his tenure, and he thinks it’s time he got an opportunity to challenge for the World Title.

Johnson hasn’t defended the flyweight MMA throne since last May, which has left things somewhat stagnant at the top of the division. 

And though McLaren doesn’t think the American veteran is avoiding a fight, he acknowledges that it needs to get moving.  

“No, he’s definitely not afraid. The man’s the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. There’s no way he’d be afraid,” he said. 

“In the same breath, don’t hold out. Either give us a shot at an interim [title] or just relinquish, man.”

A match against Kingad might be on the cards

A rematch against the man standing ahead of him in the rankings, Danny Kingad, is also a possibility that ‘Lightning’ would be open to while he awaits his shot at gold. 

In their initial encounter, in the ONE Flyweight MMA World Grand Prix semi-finals at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES in August 2019, ‘The King’ picked up a razor-thin split-decision win that McLaren still doesn’t agree with. 

As such, he’d like a chance to run it back with his Filipino foe. But ultimately, the 32-year-old powerhouse just wants the world to know that he’s ready to continue his charge

“I think everyone knows I won that fight. I think he [Kingad] has been hiding up in the mountains ever since I’ve been calling for that fight,” he said. 

“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.”