A mainstay of ONE Championship’s bantamweight roster has called for his release.
Australian bantamweight Reece “Lightning” McLaren has competed under the ONE Championship banner for nine years, having made his debut for the promotion back in December 2015. But now, due to the promotion taking a different direction with its events, the Aussie is finding opportunities to compete in MMA fewer and further between, and has asked to be let go so he can continue his career elsewhere.
In an open letter to the promotion on his Instagram, McLaren wrote, “I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to @onechampionship for the opportunity to be part of the roster. Representing ONE has been an honor, and I have deep respect for the athletes, staff, and fans who make this organization special.
“However, with the promotion shifting its focus towards Muay Thai and kickboxing, along with being ghosted by a matchmaker and a lack of communication, I feel it’s time for me to move on. As a competitor, I need to stay active and continue growing.
“With that said, I respectfully request my release from ONE Championship. I have nothing but appreciation for the time I’ve spent under the banner, but I believe this is the best path forward for me. I look forward to new challenges and opportunities ahead.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey—fans, teammates, coaches, and family. The best is yet to come!”
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McLaren competed 17 times under the ONE banner, winning 11 and losing six during that run. He challenged for the promotion’s bantamweight title back in 2016, but lost out to long-reigning champion Bibiano Fernandes.
He holds victories over Tatsumitsu Wada, Jarred Brooks and current UFC bantamweight Muin Gafurov, and hopes to be able to continue his career with another promotion.
If released, McLaren would seem like a perfect fit for RIZIN FF, but it remains to be seen whether his request to be released will be granted.