![Sanzhar Zakirov (left) Reece McLaren (right) [Photos via: ONE Championship]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/fe3af-17369601255536-1920.jpg)
![Sanzhar Zakirov (left) Reece McLaren (right) [Photos via: ONE Championship]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.6666666666667'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAACQBf8A/8QAIxAAAQQBAgcBAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDBAUSAAYREyEjMUJhof/aAAgBAQABPwDbNRVuSKB6wr1jPRTOOoC9lg4LqKPlDy91/NSNvUzch0GWO0JKg8xBMuH1cOq6/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhEA/9oACAECAQE/AEY5d//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACERIi/9oACAEDAQE/AFfFoP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Uzbekistan striker Sanzhar Zakirov wants to further establish his name in ONE Championship by making light work of ONE flyweight MMA mainstay Reece McLaren in his potential move up to the 135-pound division.
Speaking with Nick Atkin of the Bangkok Post after upsetting Tatsumitsu Wada in their strawweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 27 last Friday, Jan. 10, Zakirov said:
"I'm almost 100% confident that I would win that fight. I'm 21 years old, I have 13 wins, so I'm pretty confident in myself, so bring it on."
Watch the entire interview here:
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Fans should not be surprised to see Zakirov oozing with confidence. His victory over the Japanese veteran marked a successful debut on the main roster following a three-fight winning streak on the ONE Friday Fights circuit.
'Tornado' delivered a well-rounded performance on both the feet and the ground, pressuring Wada into uncharacteristic mental lapses throughout their three-round encounter.
With a statement victory potentially capping off his run in the 125-pound MMA division, many are now intrigued to see how Zakirov will fare in the heavier weight class.
Fans in the United States and Canada with an active Prime Video subscription can rewatch ONE Fight Night 27 on demand.
What a win over Reece McLaren would mean for Sanzhar Zakirov
Sanzhar Zakirov calling out Reece McLaren might be viewed as brazen by some fans. Still, this undeniable confidence could launch his career to even greater heights.
'Lightning', the fourth-ranked ONE flyweight MMA competitor, is coming off a spectacular split-decision triumph over interim strawweight MMA king Jarred Brooks' attempt to start his conquest of the 135-pound division in December.
Defeating the established veteran in his flyweight debut might even allow him to leapfrog other ranked fighters and soon challenge for the division's recently vacated crown after the retirement of then-reigning king Demetrious Johnson at ONE 168: Denver last Sept. 6.
