John Lineker dismantled Kevin Belingon and Troy Worthen to secure his shot at the ONE Championship belt. He isn’t worried about hiding the game plan for Friday’s match with bantamweight champion Bibiano Florandes in Singapore.
Speaking to MMA Fighting’s Portuguese language podcast Trocacao Frankca, Lineker said that he will not back down when he takes on his Brazilian opponent, who currently holds the record for number of title defenses within ONE Championship history.
“He has fought great fighters at ONE and I admire Bibiano as a champion and athlete,” Lineker stated. Lineker said, “But I see that he has never fought anyone with the same style or aggressiveness as me. Strikes don’t intimidate me, but I am not afraid of anything.
” I’m going forward all the time. My hands are very heavy. In fights, I have shown this. So, for sure, this is the first time he’ll fight someone with my style.”
Lineker was a bantamweight and flyweight fighter in the UFC for nearly seven years. He won over Marlon Vera and Rob Font as well as Michael McDonald and John Dodson. “Hands of Stone” parted ways with the promotion in 2019 following a split decision loss to Cory Sandhagen and has since won three straight in ONE.
“I believe I’ve fought guys in the UFC that are way tougher than the one’s he’s fought,” Lineker said. “[They were] way tougher and more dangerous [than Fernandes’ opponents], and I was able to knock them out.
“[Fernandes and I] Two completely distinct styles. We’re both very different men with unique skills. He won’t trade or stand with me, but I’m not sure. I’ve believed that story in the past — some fighters said they were going to stand with me, but misled me and took me down. I won’t fall for that anymore. I’m ready. However, I would like him to do the things he promised and make a trade with me .”
Lineker would be open to challenging Thanh Le to win the ONE featherweight title in the future. Lineker, a heavy-hitting striker, also advocated for the possibility of boxing in the future. He suggested a match against Acelino Freitas (former WBA champion and WBO champion), who was recently defeated by Whindersson Nunes, a Brazilian YouTuber.
Lineker won’t lose focus on the task ahead, though, which is to take Fernandes’ belt at ONE: Lights Out.
” Everyone knows my style and I don’t hide mine,” he stated. “Push the pace the entire time and go for the knockout. This is what I love to do, finish the fight. I don’t like to leave it in judges’ hands. It is either him .”
or me
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