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Rising superstar Fabricio Andrade is looking to entertain fans each time he competes, which is why he wanted to have a striking-only battle with John Lineker.
'Wonder Boy' managed to outstrike Lineker in their first meeting last October. The 25-year-old was nearing his fourth straight finish before landing a fight-ending groin strike.
Fabricio Andrade told ONE Championship about his wish to have a stand-up bout with Lineker in their first match, stating:
“Yes, of course [I wanted a striking battle]. My wrestling is good, my jiu-jitsu is good... What happened in the fight was an agreement, and I kept my word. I said that I wouldn’t shoot for my takedowns because I wanted to entertain the fans and I was told that he was a striker.”
Prior to squaring off with Lineker, the phenom rattled off three consecutive first-round finishes on the feet, including a liver-kick TKO over Kwon Won Il.
Fabricio Andrade says John Lineker's wrestling won't matter in their upcoming rematch
Despite not being known for his wrestling prowess, Andrade doesn't envision being outgrappled by Lineker in the rematch.
He told The MMA Superfan:
“For me, it doesn't really matter what he's training or what he's going to try to do. I don't really care what my opponent is doing. The focus for me is to keep getting better, to keep improving in every area. So, of course, when I step in for an MMA fight, I'm ready to defend a takedown [until] the last fight.”
Lineker is better known for his aggressive fighting style and punching power rather than being a submission artist. In fact, the former ONE bantamweight champ only has one submission victory since signing with the UFC in 2012.
Meanwhile, Andrade scored a submission win in his first appearance inside the circle, sinking in a rear-naked choke on Mark Abelardo.
Make sure to tune in to ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video to watch the highly anticipated rematch between Fabricio Andrade and John Lineker for the vacant bantamweight world title, live from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand.
Check out Fabricio Andrade's full conversation with The MMA Superfan below:
