Reece “Lightning” McLaren has his own assignment to deal with when ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III gets underway in Colorado’s 1st Bank Center on Friday, May 5. But as soon as he’s settled his flyweight battle against Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov, the Australian grappling ace will be tuning in to the main event showdown with a motive.

That’s because McLaren hopes a victory over Akhmetov on ONE Championship’s debut show in North America will push him as the next man to challenge for the ONE Flyweight World Title.

Reece McLaren lauded both fighters’ weapons and wanted to challenge the victor

Above all, though, he’ll be interested to see who comes out on top in the pair’s rubber match, with the scores currently tied at one a piece. “Yeah. It’ll be interesting. I think what happened with Moraes last time was that he had that weight cut early, I think then his fitness went. I think he’d have that under control now. He shows that he’s been enough to do the fight.”

The Boonchu Gym representative has closely watched Johnson and Moraes’ epic battles over the past few years to study their game and pick up new traits from the flyweight superstars. Although he’s in awe of both men’s world-class arsenal, McLaren is hoping to challenge whoever the victor may be come ONE Fight Night 10.

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Moraes bagged ONE’s 2021 MMA Knockout of the Year when he finished the MMA GOAT with a crushing knee when the pair met at ONE on TNT I in April of that year. And a finish of that degree against a legend – who had never been knocked out in 34 previous fights – proved to the world that “Mikinho” is indeed the greatest flyweight of this era.

Reece McLaren also predicted the situation-wise outcome of the bout

However, when the pair ran it back at ONE on Prime Video 1 in August last year, “Mighty Mouse” captured the crown with a strikingly similar stoppage to earn the gold, a US$50,000 performance bonus, and later, the promotion’s 2022 MMA Knockout of the Year accolade. McLaren feels their trilogy battle will provide fans with a similar degree of excitement. If not, a far better fight from both men. 

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The #4-ranked flyweight contender believes both men stand an equal chance at victory – depending on who holds their forte first at ONE Fight Night 10. “Lightning” offered, “DJ’s DJ. He does what he does. If he gets caught again, then definitely it’s Moraes. But if he gets in underneath and wears out Moraes as he did in that last one, then it will go DJ’s way.”

“It will ultimately come down to Moraes being able to capitalize on his reach and not letting DJ get inside.”