“I've called him out already” - John Lineker hopes dream match-up with Rodtang becomes a reality
Former ONE bantamweight MMA world champion and recent Muay Thai fighter 'Hands of Stone' John Lineker of Brazil is having the time of his life competing in the 'Art of Eight Limbs'.
After his second straight stoppage victory in Muay Thai at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Prime Video last weekend, where he finished Russian standout Alexey Balyko in the first round, Lineker again took to the mic to call out reigning ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion 'The Iron Man' Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Addressing the media in the official ONE Fight Night 25 on Prime Video post-fight interviews backstage, Lineker once again reiterated his desire to face Thailand's biggest superstar.
'Hands of Stone' said:
"It doesn't depend on me, it depends on ONE. I've called [him out] already. So now I need to wait to see if the boss will make this happen."
Lineker says the ball is in ONE Championship's court, but he believes a showdown with Rodtang would produce epic fireworks.
ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Prime Video went down live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand last Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action via replay on-demand with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
John Lineker says Muay Thai is fun but his focus is on MMA
No matter how much fun 'Hands of Stone' John Lineker is having in Muay Thai, the 34-year-old Brazilian veteran says he has never lost sight of his ultimate goal. He wants to reclaim the ONE bantamweight MMA world title from Fabricio 'Wonder Boy' Andrade.
He told the media:
"Yeah, my focus is on MMA, but I'm really enjoying fighting in Muay Thai, you know, especially because this is more striking. So I don't need to be very worried when they want to take me down, this kind of thing. But my focus is MMA."
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding John Lineker's next fight.