John Lineker happy with 2022 despite losing his world title in controversial fashion

John Lineker has had an up-and-down year in 2022 but he is still reflecting on it positively. Whilst he may have ended the year without his world championship, Lineker can’t be denied that he achieved his dream in the last 12 months.

At ONE: Lights Out in March, Lineker dethroned the long-reigning dominant ONE bantamweight world champion Bibiano Fernandes with a devastating knockout. Going 4-0 inside the Circle, the Brazilian finally accomplished what he set out to do when he arrived in ONE Championship.

At ONE on Prime Video 3, John Lineker was set to defend his world title for the first time against a fellow Brazilian striker in Fabricio Andrade. Unfortunately, for the world champion, he was stripped of his world title after missing weight, meaning he wouldn’t be eligible to win it back at the event.

After the fight ended in a no contest, Lineker will have the opportunity to right his wrongs when they rematch at ONE on Prime Video 7.

In an interview with ONE Championship, John Lineker reflected on the last 12 months of his career:

“It was a very good year. I had a great achievement in my life - the achievement of a dream - which was to become world champion. I ended up losing the title [on] the scales, which was something that made me very upset. I already had a history of problems with the scale, but this time, it was a [small] detail because I [didn’t] suffer to reach the weight. I should have weighed [myself on] the official scales, but I still had a wonderful time in 2022. And about my last fight, I had my cup broken. Unfortunately, I couldn't get back into the fight. But we will have our rematch. Everything fell into place and now, I have the opportunity to get my belt back.”

---

“The limit is only an illusion” - John Lineker motivated for redemption ahead of Fabricio Andrade rematch

Former ONE bantamweight world champion John Lineker believes that his potential is limitless. The Brazilian knockout artist recently took to Instagram to share his thoughts:

"The limit is only an illusion for those who are afraid to fight 👊🏼 🪨"

With an experienced record of 35-9, John Lineker has spent the majority of his career competing at the very top of the sport against some of the best fighters in the world. Since debuting professionally nearly 15 years ago, ‘Hands of Stone’ has earned his nickname by winning half of his fights by knockout.

At ONE on Prime Video 7, Lineker will need to add another knockout to his impressive highlight reel if he is going to win back his title that is now vacant after he lost it on the scales.

Whilst Fabricio Andrade may not have been crowned world champion after his fight with Lineker ended in a no contest, he proved himself on the night and was the better man on the night.

When John Lineker couldn’t continue following the unintentional knee to his groin which broke his cup, it was clear that a rematch would be next for both men.

In February, he will need to make the right adjustments to defeat Fabricio Andrade and win back his world title. Though he may not have lost their first meeting, it was clear that Andrade was on his way to winning before the unintentional foul that caused an end to the fight.