“A guy who puts on a show” - John Lineker picks Rodtang Jitmuangnon as the best fighter in ONE Championship

World champions have a certain type of ego, yet bantamweight king John Lineker knows there’s always a good reason to give props to his contemporaries.

The ONE bantamweight world champion is one of the top fighters in ONE Championship but he sees Rodtang Jitmuangnon, the reigning ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion, as the best fighter in the promotion.

Although he won’t get to fight Rodtang, John Lineker has his hands full when he defends his gold against Fabricio Andrade at ONE on Prime Video 3 on October 21 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

Lineker, in an interview with ONE Championship, said it’s Rodtang’s ungodly toughness that made him such a fan of the Thai superstar:

“Saying who is the best fighter in ONE at the moment is difficult because there are great fighters in the organization. But a guy who is really tough, who I like to see fight, is Rodtang from Muay Thai. He is very good. As I said, it's hard to point out who is the best, but I point out Rodtang as a very tough athlete, a guy who puts on a show and that everyone wants to watch.”

Rodtang is considered among the greatest strikers of his generation and he owns a Muay Thai and kickboxing record of 268-42-10. He’s also a perfect 11-0 in his striking matches in ONE Championship.

‘The Iron Man’ reached the pinnacle of the sport when he beat Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title at ONE: Dawn of Heroes in August 2019. He’s since defended that belt three times against Walter Goncalves, Haggerty, and Petchdam Petchyindee.

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John Lineker recalls the origin of his ‘Hands of Stone’ moniker

If Rodtang possesses a near-invincible chin, then John Lineker has the hands to bring down castle walls.

Lineker owns the aptly proper nickname of ‘Hands of Stone’ and the Brazilian star has been living up to the lofty expectations of his moniker. The 32-year-old is on a streak of three straight knockouts in having felled Kevin Belingon, Troy Worthen, and Bibiano Fernandes.

In an interview with ONE Championship, John Lineker said that his nickname started when he was still an active boxer during his younger years.

“That nickname started in boxing. I started boxing at 12 years old, and I was very small and skinny, but I always sparred with athletes older and heavier than me. So, when I hit them, they said that my hand was too heavy, especially for my age and height. And then they started to say that my hand felt like a stone."