VIDEO: One step away from fighting for the title at ONE, John Lineker opens up about a new moment outside the UFC

With 100% success rate since his debut in ONE Championship, John Lineker is enjoying a great moment in his career. Former UFC bantamweight promise (up to 61,2 kg.), the Brazilian, in an exclusive interview with the SUPER LUTAS YouTube channel, opened the game by talking about his dismissal from Ultimate, the next steps in his career and reinforced his desire to face the champion Bibiano Fernandes for the Asian company belt.

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Newly arrived at ONE, with two fights fought and winning in his commitments, Lineker is one step away from challenging for the bantamweight title in the company. Before that, however, the Brazilian must get past the dangerous Stephen Lomar, in an event that will be broadcast on April 28th.

One eye on the fish, one on the cat

Concentrated on his next commitment, Lineker does not hide that his main objective is to exchange forces against the current champion of his category, Bibiano Fernandes, a great highlight of the organization. With his compatriot in his sights, John talks enthusiastically about the possible confrontation.

“My focus is 100% on him (Bibiano). I have just one more step in front of me. I am very determined to win the next fight, because my final target is the Bibiano Fernandes, win the belt. I want to become the world champion, because I’m very excited about it”, said the man from Paraná.

Departure from UFC

Before arriving at the Asian event, Lineker had a successful trajectory within Ultimate. Even without winning a belt in the company, the Brazilian collected victims and was a prominent name in the bantamweight division. The relationship, however, ended in 2019, after a series of incidents. The Paraná native then opened the game and explained the reasons that forced the shutdown.

“There were several factors. It started when I was going to fight the cody garbrandt and, the week of the fight, I caught dengue fever and it was cancelled. The UFC ends up losing a lot, because it would be an important fight for the division. Then I caught a bacteria – I was going to fight the Jimmie rivera, in (Las) Vegas. So, a lot of things happened that were not in my control. (…) The UFC started freezing me, for these reasons. I hadn't fought for a long time and it was hurting me. I have a family, five children. I need to work a lot. (…) I started to get upset. I even said that if they weren't happy with me, to send me away. That’s when they scheduled a fight, I ended up getting hurt and they decided to send me away”, he confirmed.

Was the dismissal fair?

After 16 fights in the organization and a positive history, anyone who thinks that Lineker has resentment towards his former home is mistaken. Analyzing the scenario, the Brazilian showed a lot of maturity when facing the situation and did not shy away from the answer.

“I accepted my resignation well, especially because, before they sent me away, they dismissed me. It was fair. There's nothing to complain about. I just have to be grateful for the seven years I spent in the UFC. Changed my life. I was able to provide a better livelihood for my family. It’s a new life and a new home,” he said.

There is life outside of Ultimate

Considered the largest MMA organization in the world, gone are the days when the company reigned supreme in the world of mixed martial arts. Although it still has great prominence when it comes to sports, in recent years, other companies have grown and opened their doors to athletes. Thus, John also clarified the possibilities outside the organization chaired by Dana White.

“There are big events. The focus is the UFC, but there is life outside. ONE Championship, PFL, Bellator, even 'bare-knuckle boxing' (BKFC). (…) People still crave the UFC for the status, the name you can make. Thank God, I managed to have big fights, with big names and made a name for myself”, he admitted.

History at ONE Championship

Stephen Lomar's opponent at ONE on TNT 4, Lineker is one step away from making history in the Asian company. If you overcome your rival at the end of April, you will earn the right to face Bibiano Fernandes and beat the champion, the Brazilian spoke about his plans to continue his career.

“With the belt, I want to make my history within ONE, defend the title and stay there for as long as possible. I don’t think about venturing into another organization”, he concluded.

Athlete's history

At 30 years old, John now has a record of 42 fights. Professional in MMA since 2008, the Paraná native currently has 33 wins and nine losses.

In his last match, Lineker knocked out Kevin Belingon in the second round. The event took place in October 2020.

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