Fifth-Ranked Reece McLaren Anticipates ‘Exciting Match’ With Undefeated Aleksi Toivonen
Reece “Lightning” McLaren knows he’s in for a long night against ONE Championship’s most promising flyweight, but the 29-year-old has been preparing well for this moment.
Before he battles Aleksi “The Giant” Toivonen at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES on 9 October, the Australian explained how he’s used the last six months of lockdowns and restrictions to his advantage.
“I just kept doing what I do,” McLaren said. “I always run and do lots of visualization and lots of studying – just watching and watching and watching.
“I think [the fans are] going to see a better, improved me. In the last six months, I’ve made some massive, massive gains.”
Meanwhile, the same can be said for Toivonen.
Since recovering from an ACL tear, the undefeated Finn has been grinding at Evolve MMA. That training coupled with his explosive ground game – which earned him a debut ONE Championship win over Akihiro “Superjap” Fujisawa in the first round – could present challenges to “Lightning.”
“He looks strong and he looks like he takes the back really well,” McLaren said of Toivonen.
“He grapples very well. Being a European champion – that’s a great achievement. I know the grappling circuit in Europe is very high-level. They get all the big guns going to the Europeans, so that means he’s a very good grappler.”
McLaren, however, is not anticipating an all-out ground battle and will be more than ready to contest the fight on his feet if need be.
“I think it could go either way. It’s either going to be a stand-up battle as the two grapplers equal each other, or it’s going to turn into a massive grappling match,” McLaren said.
“I’m a mixed martial artist, so wherever I can take it to have the edge, I’ll take it there.”
If “Lightning” gets the win, not only would he solidify his #5 flyweight ranking, but he would also further his case for a shot at the division’s top-ranked contender or World Champion.
“I believe I’m one or two wins away from having my name there as a replacement if Demetrious [Johnson] or [Adriano] Moraes get hurt,” he said.
Before that happens, though, McLaren must get past Toivonen. And although he doesn’t want to forecast how this match will play out, he does promise to make it a thriller.
“I don’t like to predict because everyone sounds cocky in predictions,” McLaren said. “So, all I can say is it’s going to be an exciting match, and tune in.”
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