J. Lineker (photo) has six wins in eight fights in Ultimate. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
With several problems cutting weight and reaching the 57 kg required for flyweight, Brazilian John Lineker was forced to move up a category, despite coming close to fighting for the belt. But anyone who thinks that Lineker will have an easy time in the new division is mistaken. According to the fighter himself, he will still have to cut around 13 kg to present himself on weigh-in day as a legitimate bantamweight.
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“I will have to cut about 30 pounds (13,6 kg kg) to fight at 61,2 kg. I used to cut 18 pounds to fight as a flyweight. Bantamweight is my home category. I only dropped to 57 kg for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. The division was new to the UFC and they were looking for fighters. I had a good record, and then they hired me”, said the Brazilian, in an interview with the podcast “The MMA Hour”.
Hired to give shape to the recent flyweight division, Lineker ended up liking the idea and, together with his team, saw himself capable of reaching the belt, which is why he insisted so many times on remaining in the lightest men's category in Ultimate. “I was upset because I lost the chance to compete for the title, but it was very difficult for me to weigh 57 kg. I didn't have much time between my fights and my body couldn't handle it, so I didn't make weight again. It will be easier at 61,2 kg. I thought about moving up for some time, but my manager believed I could win the flyweight title, so we insisted. I believe I could weigh 56,7 kg, but only if I had five or six months between fights. I was cutting a lot of weight, but now they're forcing me to fight at 61,2 kg. The boss told me to move up to bantamweight, but I already wanted to move up,” he assured.
In recent years, John Lineker has experienced a very unusual situation in the UFC. In total, the Brazilian failed to make weight in five of his eight fights in the organization, a number that is usually more than enough to cause the athlete to be fired. On the other hand, Lineker ended up getting six wins in the period, which guaranteed him on the Ultimate squad. On January 31st, after yet another weight loss and another important victory, this time over Ian McCall, president Dana White gave the Santa Catarina native an ultimatum to move up to bantamweight.
At 24 years old, John Lineker has a record of 25 wins and seven losses. “Mãos de Pedra”, as he is known, still does not have an official date to debut in his new weight category.
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