After 15 fights in ONE Championship, Australian MMA standout Reece ‘Lightning’ McLaren believes he’s finally found the perfect formula. The 32-year-old will soon return to action, as he’s set to square off with surging knockout artist ‘Wolf Warrior’ Hu Yong in a pivotal flyweight MMA clash on May 3 at ONE Fight Night 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova on Prime Video.

That battle will air live in U.S. primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Currently ranked #4 in ONE’s talent-laden flyweight MMA division, McLaren had spent the past few years fine-tuning his striking game under the careful tutelage of Muay Thai icon John Wayne Parr.

Reece McLaren is changing his game

But for his upcoming bout against the #5-ranked Hu, ‘Lightning’ relocated his training camp to Queensland’s Combat Training Centre, where he says he’s reconnected with his grappling roots.

In an interview with The Inner Sanctum, the BJJ black belt explained:

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“It definitely feels like I’m taking my MMA in the direction that I’ve wanted to for a very, very long time, so I’m very excited,” he said. “We’ve re-awoken the monster – grappling is definitely going to be on show and a new and improved movement-based striking is coming to Bangkok.”

A grappling-heavy McLaren is a scary proposition for Hu and the rest of the flyweight MMA ranks. Equally capable of scoring the submission finish from his back or top position, the Australian boasts six submission wins in ONE, making him one of the organization’s most dangerous ground fighters.

While he’ll come into ONE Fight Night 22 following a hard-fought decision loss to former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Kairat Akhmetov, he had scored back-to-back submission finishes in his previous two appearances.

McLaren speaks about his BJJ prowess

According to McLaren, his jiu-jitsu prowess sets him apart from other elite flyweights – a list that includes MMA GOAT and reigning divisional kingpin Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson.

He added: “When you look at everyone that’s ranked in the top five, my jiu-jitsu is one of, if not the most dangerous in the top five.”

“My ground and pound and submissions are probably some of the most dangerous in the flyweight division in any organization.” Do you agree with McLaren? Let us know in the comments below.