It’s undeniable that former ONE bantamweight MMA world champion John Lineker has found a fresh spark in his transition to Muay Thai.
Despite being a seasoned veteran with 39 MMA bouts under his belt, 'Hands of Stone' has exceeded expectations in the striking discipline, impressing fans by demolishing his first two Muay Thai opponents in spectacular fashion.
Check out Lineker's Muay Thai highlight reel posted by ONE on YouTube:
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The Brazilian hard-hitter made his debut in “The Art of Eight Limbs” against American striker Asa Ten Pow at ONE 168: Denver this past September.
Although there were doubts surrounding this gusty venture, Lineker entered the Circle with one clear objective — to deliver the knockout his fans have come to expect. And he did just that.
He knocked out 'The American Ninja' in the second round, showcasing that his knockout power extends well beyond the all-encompassing sport.
Nearly a month later, Lineker continued his Muay Thai surge with another stunning performance at ONE Fight Night 25, where he demolished Alexey Balyko in the first round.
His lethal left hand repeatedly found its mark, dropping Balyko twice with powerful hooks.
The bout ended with Lineker landing a solid body shot, followed by a devastating left hook that sealed the knockout at the 2:14 mark of round one.
John Lineker is looking to go 3-0 in Muay Thai
John Lineker is now gearing up for his next assignment — a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown with Thai knockout artist Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai at ONE Fight Night 27.
This premium live event is set to emanate in U.S. primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 10, 2025.
In both of his Muay Thai victories, Lineker earned $50,000 performance bonuses, fueling his motivation to steal the show in his next outings.
Lineker said:
"I’m very happy, my family’s also very happy, that’s why I work so hard for them as well so that we are all happy. First of all, I’d like to say thank you to God and thanks to everyone, and tell my family that I am coming back."