3 of Fabricio Andrade's biggest weapons heading into John Lineker rematch

Top-ranked ONE bantamweight contender Fabricio Andrade is ready to claim what’s rightfully his. The self-proclaimed uncrowned king of the 145-pound division is eager to fulfil his destiny in his highly-anticipated rematch against rival John Lineker.

The vacant ONE bantamweight world title will be hanging in the balance at ONE Fight Night 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II on Prime Video on February 25 inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will air live on US primetime and free for Amazon Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

It’s been five months since the fateful encounter between the two Brazilian heavy hitters. However, the bitter taste still lingers in Andrade’s mouth. After all, 'Wonder Boy' was literally a few inches away from claiming the gold strap.

Lineker was truly a fearsome opponent, battering him with hard shots and some surprising takedowns. Then again, it was evident that Fabricio Andrade was winning the bout until that low blow abruptly ended the match.

With that said, the 25-year-old is still the overwhelming favorite in this rematch. So let’s have a look at Fabricio Andrade’s three biggest weapons that will help him secure the victory.

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#3. Killer instinct

What makes Andrade extremely dangerous is his innate bloodlust once the circle door closes. His opponent is practically done for if ‘Wonder Boy’ smells even a whiff of weakness. Once he gets you hurt with his world-class striking pedigree, the relentless Brazilian berserker attacks until the referee pulls him off.

The Tiger Muay Thai superstar has four finishes in six bouts inside the circle, with three of those taking place in under a round. Sure, we know Lineker is a finisher of the highest calibre as well.

Fabricio Andrade’s killer instinct, though, is at a whole different level. We all saw that in the first match when he swarmed ‘Hands of Stone’ in round 3 and was extremely close to finishing the fight, if not for the foul.

Re-watch the first fight between Lineker and Andrade below:

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#2. Mental edge

John Lineker did have his moments in their first fight, as he also rocked ‘Wonder Boy’ with his hands of stone. The former bantamweight world champion even found success in the grappling department when he took down Andrade several times. But by round 3, Andrade had his number and was on the verge of giving Lineker his first career loss by knockout.

The fight ended in a no-contest, but Andrade emerged victorious in the eyes of most fans. While he is not really a fan of moral victories, he now holds a psychological advantage over Lineker, considering the near-finish.

Lineker, for his part, has now experienced first-hand just how devastating ‘Wonder Boy’ can be. In the unforgiving fight game, the mental aspect is just as crucial as the physical part.

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#1. Fabricio Andrade possesses destructive knees

Fabricio Andrade is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the promotion, regardless of weight class. He is an unpredictable fighter with a diverse striking arsenal.

The 25-year-old has great punches and sets his offense up with that stifling jab of his. His full-range kicks keep foes at bay, while his Muay Thai background allows him to slice his opponents up with elbows if they get too close.

But by now, we all know that his signature finishing move is a killer knee to the body that sends his opponents crashing to the circle floor. Remember how easily Andrade dropped the ultra-tough Jeremy Pacatiw with a pinpoint shot to the ribs?

Even Lineker, who’s considered one of the most durable fighters ever, also fell victim to that brutal blow in their first match. The follow-up knee, of course, went lower than intended. This time around, Fabricio Andrade will make sure those piercing knees hit the target on the right spot.