"I went in looking for the knockout the whole time" - Headhunter John Lineker says game plan stayed the same in Muay Thai debut

John Lineker's strategy at ONE 168 was simple but extremely effective.

Last September 6, the former ONE bantamweight MMA world champion thrilled the combat sports world as expected, with a Muay Thai debut riddled with high-octane violence from beginning to end inside the Ball Arena in Colorado.

His rival—Asa Ten Pow—came highly recommended after amassing a wealth of Muay Thai victories in both the amateur and professional scenes. Moreover, he's an American who has been battle-tested by some of the best warriors in Thailand. Unfortunately for 'The American Ninja,' John Lineker is a different breed.

'Hands of Stone' unleashed an artillery of strikes that zapped out every bit of energy that Ten Pow might have had in the first round. The punches that were landing were devastating, slowing down his towering opponent. So it was only a matter of time before Lineker would find his knockout.

Lineker told ONE in the aftermath:

"We never know if we're going to win by knockout or on points, but I always go for the knockout."

He added:

"And this fight was no different. I went in looking for the knockout the whole time and I got it once again."

Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada can watch the full replay of ONE 168 on demand.

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"Everything is on the table" - John Lineker requests more special ONE matches in the future while prioritizing MMA

John Lineker's amazing Muay Thai debut could mean a potential change in scenery for the Brazilian superstar.

The 34-year-old knockout hunter proved he's got the ability to outstrike an elite-level Muay Thai athlete. So why not make the change and focus on developing a career in the art of eight limbs?

"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."

John Lineker is again on the fast track to a world title. He suffered his first TKO loss to current ONE bantamweight MMA world champion Fabricio Andrade in February 2023 and is, therefore, hungry for redemption.