McLaren ‘disappointed’ over botched ONE title fight

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the change in assignment, Reece McLaren is focused on winning his fight in ONE Championship’s upcoming card.

The Filipino-Australian dynamo was originally penciled to challenge Adriano Moraes for the Flyweight World Championship in the main event of “Visions of Victory," but the Brazilian champion pulled out of the contest due to an injury.

But McLaren wouldn’t deny that he felt a tinge of disappointment in the sudden adjustment.  

“It is what it is,” he said. "I was excited about my bout with Moraes because it would have been a clash of two best flyweights entering their primes. However, there are circumstances that are beyond our control.”

Last November, McLaren reinvented himself as a flyweight, immediately making his presence felt in the division against contender Anatpong Bunrad.

With a mere eight seconds remaining in the very first round, McLaren caught Bunrad in an anaconda choke and then transitioned into a D’arce choke, forcing his foe to tap.

Based on the impressive outcome of his flyweight debut against Bunrad, McLaren was awarded with a shot at the division’s top prize.

Even though he lost his opportunity to vie for a world title for the second time in his professional career, McLaren took the situation in stride and wished Moraes a speedy recovery.

“I am slightly disappointed, but it is safety first. If I was the one sick or injured, I would not compete either, so I hope he recovers fast and gets back on track,” he stated.

With his original foe out of the picture, McLaren turns his attention to Subba on Friday night in the card slated at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The latter has been a household name in the promotion’s flyweight division, facing the likes Eugene Toquero, Saiful Merican, Anatpong Bunrad, Riku Shibuya and current Interim flyweight champion Geje Eustaquio.

But McLaren remains unfazed.

“Subba is my opponent now, and I need to adapt quickly to his style. But our game plan is still the same,” he said. "I will execute just that.”

McLaren and Subba lock horns in the main card of the showpiece that is scheduled to begin 7 p.m.