“An amazing athlete with box truck power” - Jarred Brooks impressed by John Lineker’s perfect Muay Thai transition

ONE interim strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks voiced his respect for John Lineker's "box truck power."

Earlier this year, Lineker decided to temporarily leave mixed martial arts and test himself in Muay Thai. The former ONE bantamweight MMA world champion has since found success in "The Art of Eight Limbs" by defeating Asa Ten Pow (second-round knockout) and Alexey Balyko (first-round knockout).

Lineker's crossover success has earned respect from various fighters worldwide. During an interview with Sportskeeda, ONE interim strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks had this to say about 'Hands of Stone':

"A lot of these guys should have transitioned a long time ago. John Lineker is an amazing athlete with box truck power."

Before fighting in Muay Thai, John Lineker reasserted himself as the top contender in the ONE bantamweight MMA division. The 34-year-old suffered a title loss against Fabricio Andrade before bouncing back with consecutive wins against Kim Jae Woong (third-round knockout) and Stephen Loman (unanimous decision).

Lineker's last ONE Championship appearance in MMA took place in January. The Brazilian fan favorite accepted an openweight bout against Shinya Aoki on short notice, with the latter emerging victorious by first-round submission.

Watch John Lineker's latest knockout against Alexey Balyko below:

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What's next for Jarred Brooks and John Lineker in ONE Championship?

Jarred Brooks suffered a setback in March due to a disqualification loss. The unfortunate situation led to Joshua Pacio regaining the ONE strawweight MMA world title, creating the need for a must-see trilogy.

Pacio was sidelined due to a torn ACL before he could fight Brooks for a third time. As a result, 'The Monkey God' faced Gustavo Balart in an interim title matchup, with the former showcasing an impressive first-round submission performance.

There are two options for Brooks' next fight. The American superstar could wait for Pacio to ensure an undisputed title shot or avoid the layoff and take on another top contender. Brooks could also test himself in another division or sport.

As for John Lineker, he also has options moving forward. The 34-year-old could continue pursuing a Muay Thai world title or return to MMA where he arguably deserves another title shot against Fabricio Andrade.