“It would be a very interesting fight” - John Lineker is open to fighting Demetrious Johnson at a catchweight

MMA fans have always wondered how a John Lineker versus Demetrious Johnson fight would play out. After all, these two amazing fighters were once in the same division during their respective tenures in the UFC.

For some reason, the MMA gods did not favor this fight, and the paths of ‘Mighty Mouse’ and ‘Hands of Stone’ somehow never intertwined.

In a recent interview with ONE Championship, though, Lineker said that he would love to revisit the idea now that they are both signed with the largest martial arts organization in the world. The reigning ONE bantamweight king wouldn’t mind a world champion versus world champion showdown happening inside the circle.

However, the Brazilian slugger implied that it would have to take place under one condition:

“It would be a very interesting fight. Of course, at a catchweight, because I can't get to 61 kilograms. But at a catchweight, it would be a very interesting fight. I would really enjoy this fight and I'm sure the fans will too.”

After dominating the North American MMA scene, Johnson came over to ONE in 2018 in a blockbuster trade that sent Ben Askren to the UFC. It didn’t take long for DJ to make waves in Asia, as he went 5-1 inside the circle.

He struck gold in his last outing, avenging an earlier defeat to Adriano Moraes for the ONE flyweight world title.

The 36-year-old American superstar also won a unique mixed-rules bout against ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon earlier this year.

Lineker, on the other hand, made the move to ONE in 2019 and has been untouchable since. The American Top Team standout went on an unblemished 4-0 run, capped off by his world title-winning victory over Bibiano Fernandes this past March.

If John Lineker can defend his 145-pound throne against Fabricio Andrade at ONE on Prime Video 3 on October 21, a catchweight bout against Johnson is no doubt an intriguing matchup to make.

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John Lineker explains what sets ONE apart from other promotions

John Lineker has always been a world-class talent, but weight issues have held him back in the past. Back then, ‘Hands of Stone’ had to deplete himself before his fights just to make weight.

Some of the cuts were so brutal that he sometimes felt defeated before the match even began.

With ONE, it’s a different story. The promotion’s hydration tests have abolished MMA’s ugly side of weight-cutting, allowing fighters to compete closer to their natural weight.

John Lineker, who no longer has to subject himself to such torture, has nothing but praise for ONE. The 145-pound world champion said:

“Another thing that I highlight is the weigh-in method because it doesn't take the athlete to have that physical and emotional exhaustion. ONE is not second to any other organization. They are excellent, they have great professionals in all areas. But, in my opinion, the main thing is the treatment given to the athletes and then the weigh-in method.”