“I was very happy with the result” - John Lineker says he executed his game plan to perfection in Denver
Former ONE world champion John Lineker was very happy with the way things played out in his Muay Thai debut.
Returning to the Circle on Sept. 6, 'Hands of Stone' put his striking skills on display as he squared off with 'The American Ninja' Asa Ten Pow at ONE 168: Denver.
Though he entered the bout as an underdog in the eyes of many, Lineker delivered a dominant performance and put away Ten Pow with a brilliantly timed counter-right hook that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
Looking back on his victory during a recent interview with ONE Championship, Lineker was very happy with his performance and the ensuing result:
"I think I did very well, especially considering that my specialty is boxing. I managed to do everything I had planned, and I was very happy with the result."
While Lineker's Muay Thai career is off to a good start, 'Hands of Stone' is still focused on reclaiming the ONE bantamweight MMA world championship.
John Lineker still has his sights set on taking back the ONE bantamweight MMA world title
Nearly two years ago, John Lineker suffered the first loss of his career under the ONE Championship banner, surrendering the bantamweight MMA crown to Brazilian standout Fabricio Andrade at ONE Fight Night 7 in Bangkok.
Lineker has already kickstarted his campaign back to the belt with back-to-back wins over Kim Jae Woong and Stephen Loman last year.
Adding to his comments above, 'Hands of Stone' made it clear that his pit stop in the art of eight limbs won't deter him from seeking to recapture the 26 pounds of gold he once held around his waist:
"My focus is to fight for the title again, regardless of who holds the belt," Lineker said. "It’s currently with Fabrício Andrade, so my focus is to fight him for the title.”
Having won three of his last four, has Lineker earned the opportunity to challenge Andrade for the bantamweight strap?
If you missed any of the action, ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch the ONE 168: Denver replay on demand via Amazon Prime Video.