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Former ONE bantamweight MMA world champion John Lineker has hands for days. Still, he refuses to solely bank on the firepower in his fists when he makes his Muay Thai debut at ONE 168: Denver on September 6.
That evening inside Ball Arena, the Brazilian slugger meets American striking standout Asa Ten Pow in a bantamweight matchup. On paper, many view his 'Hands of Stone' as a trump card that should earn him a cracking win in Denver, Colorado.
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However, the 34-year-old knows that it'll be far easier said than done against a dance partner who packs a couple of tricks up his sleeve. Speaking to ONE Championship, John Lineker said:
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"I'm going to do everything I can to neutralize his strengths and get my game right. He's a tough, technical, and versatile guy."
If he does open his Muay Thai resume with a win, it'll be interesting to see how the American Top Team fighter will fare against other bantamweight Muay Thai athletes — should he choose to stick on the path.
The brawler has amassed an impressive 18 knockouts across his 37 wins in MMA, and it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if he can translate his vicious KO power into 'The Art Of Eight Limbs' sphere.
John Lineker wants to continue his evolution as a martial artist in Denver
John Lineker admits a Muay Thai brawl on one of the hottest cards of 2024 was too good of a chance to turn down. Plus, as an individual who emphasizes evolution, it was a no-brainer.
However, he maintained that his primary goal remains his bread and butter of MMA. In the same exchange with the promotion, the top-ranked bantamweight MMA contender noted:
"Everything is on the table. I want to test myself more and more. But my focus is MMA. That's where I want to continue working."
ONE 168: Denver, which will air live in U.S. primetime from Ball Arena on September 6, is available to all active Amazon Prime Video subscribers for free. Get your tickets on Ticketmaster.
