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Lineker anxious for rematch with Andrade after no-contest at ONE Fight Night 3
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Former ONE bantamweight world champion John Lineker walks into the Circle ahead of title fight against Fabricio Andrade at ONE Fight Night 3 this past Saturday. (ONE Championship)
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NE Championship superstar John “Hands of Stone” Lineker’s mental and physical fortitudes were tested to their limits at ONE Fight Night 3 this past Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
After being stripped of the world title for failing to make weight in the lead-up to his main event showdown with Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade, Lineker was hit by an accidental low knee from his opponent, leaving him unable to continue.
The much-anticipated battle between the two bantamweight brawlers was ruled a no-contest as a result, and the coveted divisional throne remains empty for now.
Despite having endured one of the most frustrating weekends of his fighting career, the 32-year-old is still hungry to fight and eager for a rematch with his young compatriot. He plans to prove to Wonder Boy and the world that he is still World Champion – once he recovers from his injuries.
“I believe there will be a second fight. The audience wants to see that fight again. It was a very exciting fight, a war, and the audience likes that style of fighting. It was a very busy fight. I want to face him again soon, but first, I need to recover. My face is a little crumpled now. But let's see a date to have this new fight against him,” Lineker said.
“I really want to get this belt back. I didn't lose the title to an opponent, but to the scales. This belt is actually mine; I remain the champion. I can't wait to fight for the belt again.”
Read also: Kade Ruotolo planning MMA debut after world title win at ONE on prime video 3Prior to the knee that halted the fight, Lineker was struggling against the now No. 1 ranked bantamweight contender. Andrade had battered him throughout the first two rounds, and he looked set for an emphatic victory.
Hands of Stone is realistic about his performance in the world title tussle. He is open and complimentary of his rival’s skill set, but he also believes that the issues with his preparation for the fight followed him into the Circle on the night.
“Losing the title for a silly thing, for a miscalculation I made at the weigh-ins, made me very upset. This weight issue seems like karma to me. It's something that haunts me. I had managed to adapt well, and it was working, and now this happened. It's a trauma; I was very upset. I wasn't suffering to lose weight. It wasn't lack of professionalism or lack of training,” Lineker said.
“This shook me up a lot. I tried to stay strong and focused to get in the fight well, but I wasn't 100 percent. But that's no excuse. It was a tough fight. Fabricio is an excellent fighter, but I was very upset about what happened. I didn't go in 100 percent, but I did what needed to be done in the fight. But, unfortunately, the result was not what I expected.”
A rematch between Lineker and Andrade seems inevitable as they clearly have unfinished business. And with the ONE Bantamweight World Title currently vacant, fans may be seeing these two square off sooner rather than later.
Up next, do not miss two world champions colliding at ONE Fight Night 4: Abbasov vs. Lee on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets can be purchased here.
This article was published in collaboration with ONE Championship.
