KUALA LUMPUR: Local MMA fans will have much to cheer for at ONE Championship's Visions of Victory with four Malaysians set to fight for national pride at the Axiata Arena today.
There is much at stake for Gianni Subba who has been promoted to fight Australian Reece McLaren in the main event at Bukit Jalil following Brazilian Adriano Moraes' withdrawal due to injury. Moraes is the flyweight world champion.
The winner of the bout will go on to fight either Moraes or interim world champion Geje Eustaqio of the Philippines for the One Championship flyweight title.
Gianni, who was initially scheduled to fight Filipino Danny Kingad, said he did not think twice about accepting the fight with McLaren.
"When ONE asked me whether I wanted to step up to the main event, there was definitely no hesitation," said Gianni.
"Kingad is a huge talent but he just came off a loss for the title and it did not make much sense for me to fight him. This (fighting McLaren) makes more sense, I knew it would happen eventually.
"McLaren is tough and I know he is not going to go down easily but I am coming hard. I have been training at a very high level and have made some minor adjustments to prepare for McLaren (instead of Kingad)."
Gianni, whose record stands at nine wins and two losses, is on a two-fight winning streak having beaten Brazilian Yago Bryan Farias De Morais (September 2016) and Riku Shibuya (August 2017) of Japan in his last two bouts.
McLaren, who is at 10-5, defeated Anatpong Bunrad of Thailand in his last fight in November.
Gianni added that his unanimous decision win over Riku has given him a shot of confidence.
"I learned in that fight that I am a lot stronger than I think, I look back and there are a couple of times where I could have finished it (via submission)," added Gianni.
"I feel more confident and have improved my grappling and striking. I am going to bring it (against McLaren).
The other Malaysians competing at Visions of Victory are Agilan Thani, Muhammad Aiman Raziz Affindi and Hayatun Jihin Radzuan.