John Lineker could also be dealing with Asa Ten Pow in a Muay Thai contest this Friday when ONE Championship returns to Denver, however he nonetheless stays totally targeted on regaining his MMA title from Fabricio Andrade.
Lineker has gained twice in his weight class since shedding to Andrade in February 2023, knocking out Jae Woong Kim after which beating Stephen Loman by way of choice, however ONE nonetheless hasn’t provided him one other shot at gold. As a substitute, he was paired up in opposition to Liam Harrison for a Muay Thai contest that in the end really feel via, then misplaced to Shinya Aoki in an MMA openweight bout.
“I haven’t fought in virtually a yr, so this is a chance for me keep lively,” Lineker informed MMA Combating, saying he doesn’t take the Aoki loss into consideration because it befell exterior his weight class and was provided on hours’ discover as a alternative for Sage Northcutt. “MMA is my focus, however ONE provides us the chance to combat in different sports activities, so I took it to remain lively and in addition check myself.”
Andrade hasn’t defended the ONE title since his second conflict with Lineker and has competed solely as soon as since, shedding to Jonathan Haggerty in a kickboxing bout.
“He has the belt for a very long time and hasn’t defended it but,” Lineker stated of Andrade. “There’s nobody else however me that ought to do that combat, this trilogy, so let’s await the negotiations and see what occurs. God prepared, I’ll get this victory and we’ll see what the long run holds for us.”
“The Aoki combat just about by no means occurred,” he continued. “It was an openweight match, so it undoubtedly gained’t have an effect on my division. I’m coming off two wins in my division, and if you happen to have a look at the rankings, there’s no different combat to make however this trilogy. However no matter them giving me a title shot or not, the essential [thing is] having me combat MMA subsequent, as a result of that’s my primary objective.”
Lineker stated it took him just a few coaching periods to get used to making ready for a Muay Thai bout as a substitute of the game he has finished since 2008 through which he defeated the likes of Marlon Vera, John Dodson, Rob Font, Brian Kelleher, and Bibiano Fernandes.
The hard-hitting Brazilian initially agreed to face Harrison in a Muay Thai contest again in January, however the one-time ONE Muay Thai title challenger withdrew weeks prior. Lineker stated Harrison is extra skilled than his upcoming opponent, however beating Pow isn’t any straightforward process, particularly given his prior expertise of seven kickboxing appearances contained in the GLORY ring and a trio of Muay Thai matches at ONE.
“My plan is to go for the knockout,” Lineker stated. “I don’t like to go away it to the judges, MMA or Muay Thai. It may occur, however I am going in there in search of the knockout — and it gained’t be completely different this time.”
