Some of Team Lakay’s top flyweights were in the firing line when the winners of “ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen” took to the mic earlier this month.
Reece McLaren called out Danny Kingad following his submission victory over Xie Wei, and Gurdarshan Mangat asked for Geje Eustaquio after his split-decision nod over Yodkaikaew Fairtex.
Now, the Filipino mixed martial artists have responded to the callouts, and it looks like both men are eager to oblige their rivals and square off in the ONE circle.
Kingad on McLaren rematch: ‘I am ready’
After his eventful one-round battle at ONE 158, an emotional McLaren spoke to ONE commentator Mitch Chilson and requested Danny Kingad for his next outing.
The pair previously faced off at “ONE: Dawn of Heroes” back in August of 2019, with “The King” taking the closest of split-decision wins.
Now, No. 5-ranked “Lightning” wants the chance for redemption against No. 4-ranked Kingad.
After receiving the callout, “The King” responded to his former foe’s offer and stated that he would love to run it back with the Australian.
In fact, the 26-year-old sounds primed for action, and he urged matchmakers to book the fight soon.
“I want to say congratulations to you, Reece Mclaren, for a superb performance,” Kingad said. “I heard you calling my name inside the circle. We have faced each other before, and I am ready to face you again.
“To ONE Championship, let’s have a date for me and Reece. I am all set and game. I am ready. Let’s go!”
Eustaquio to Mangat: ‘Anytime, anywhere’
Mangat survived a late surge from Fairtex at ONE 158 to earn his second straight win at flyweight.
Following that impressive performance, the Canadian-Indian sensation turned his attention back to former ONE flyweight world champion Eustaquio ≠ a man he’s been scheduled to face several times in the past.
For “Saint Lion,” a matchup with Eustaquio would offer the chance to make a statement in the division and allow him to honor a late friend who helped him prepare for this encounter.
“Another thing for me personally is Kyle Reyes, my teammate who passed away,” Mangat said. “He helped me two to three times back to back getting ready for that (Eustaquio) fight, but those fights never happened. So for myself, I kind of hold that.
“It’s nothing against my opponent, it’s just something personal I hold in my heart that we prepared, day in and day out, three times a day for almost two years, and now he’s passed away, but I still want to complete it.”
Just like Kingad, “Gravity” was quick to respond and had no hesitation in accepting the proposition.
The Filipino is riding a two-fight winning streak of his own and believes that a victory over Mangat would propel him back into the upper tier of the flyweight ranks.
“I would like to congratulate Gary Mangat for winning, and I would say very good fight,” Eustaquio said. “Thanks for calling me out, brother. What a warrior does is to respond, and I want to say yes, let’s do it, anytime, anywhere. If you are healthy, let’s do It next week. I’m very much ready. If not next week, let’s do it next month.
“One more time – anywhere, anytime, I’m ready. Let’s do this!”
This story first published at ONEFC.com.
