'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
John Lineker doesn’t feel any added pressure going into the ONE on Prime Video 3 main event.
Lineker is attempting to defend the ONE bantamweight world title for the first time since knocking out Bibiano Fernandes in March. ‘Hands of Stone’ has finished three of his four fights in the promotion, but his next opponent could be one of the toughest challenges of his career.
Fabricio Andrade has won all five fights in ONE. He’s also finished his last three fights in the first round, heading into the showdown against Lineker. The bantamweight king was asked about feeling added pressure now that he’s champion and answered by saying:
“There is no added pressure to fight or win now that I am champion. The next fight will be just another fight, another challenge in my career, like the previous fights. Of course, now as champion, but without pressure. It will be another fight, another camp, and I'll be well prepared and focused. The result will be a consequence of the work.”
Lineker has 44 pro-MMA fights, but defending a world title is a new experience. At 32 years old, ‘Hands of Stone’ could prove at ONE on Prime Video 3 that his destruction of the bantamweight division has just begun.
Watch John Lineker knockout Bibiano Fernandes to become the ONE bantamweight champion below:
John Lineker on MMA changing his life
John Lineker has had a long journey since making his pro-MMA debut in 2008. Similar to most fighters, MMA has changed his life tremendously. During a recent interview with ONE Championship, the bantamweight champion opened up about his journey by saying:
“MMA changed my life, mainly financially, and today I can give my family a better life. Of course, [winning the world title] was a great achievement in my career. Thanks to that, I earn a little more today. People have also been looking for me more, and I have given more interviews. I go out on the street and people say, ‘Look at the champion.’ But, as a whole, it was MMA that changed my life, and the title was another achievement in my career.”
Although Lineker has been around the block, his skills haven’t diminished. Nobody has been able to slow down ‘Hands of Stone,’ but Andrade could be the one to steal the hype and become a ONE superstar.
