Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker has spent the past year cementing himself as a multi-sport warrior, bringing his all-action style of combat to Muay Thai and kickboxing with remarkable success.
Long regarded as one of MMA’s most powerful pound-for-pound punchers, the Brazilian superstar has embraced the unique opportunities afforded to him in ONE Championship.
Since losing his MMA crown to Fabricio Andrade back in 2023, Lineker has found new life as a world-class striker.
He first scored consecutive highlight-reel knockouts against elite opposition in “the art of eight limbs” before dropping thrilling and closely contested decisions to decorated Thai star Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai and former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Hiroki Akimoto.
That willingness to venture out of his comfort zone has kept him active and showcased his uncommon versatility as a martial artist.
Lineker recently spoke to onefc.com about his journey into the striking arts and how this multi-sport approach has been a career-changer:
“I think it’s really interesting what ONE does, allowing athletes to compete in other sports within the organization. This has benefited me a lot, both in terms of earning money and staying active.
“I think this is an important factor, and I hope ONE continues to give these opportunities to the organization’s athletes. I can only thank and congratulate ONE for these opportunities.”
The 34-year-old thinks that while it might not be for everyone, more fighters should follow his lead.
Each athlete should assess his or her own situation, he said. But for him, competing in Muay Thai and kickboxing has been something he’s eager to tackle:
“It’s hard to talk about other athletes because everyone has their own way of thinking. It would be great if other athletes tested themselves in other sports, but everyone knows what’s best for them.
“I’m a guy who likes these challenges, but I can’t speak for others. But it would be really cool to see other athletes trying out other sports within ONE.”
Lineker joins other ONE superstars like former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex, current submission grappling titleholder Kade Ruotolo, and former lightweight MMA king Eduard Folayang as ONE competitors who have found success across multiple disciplines.
However, he also warns other fighters to properly prepare themselves before making the leap into unfamiliar territory:
“I think athletes need to prepare a lot. Just because they fight MMA, doesn’t mean they’ll be ready to fight Muay Thai or kickboxing. The same goes for striking athletes who want to have a super-fight in MMA.
“The first step is for the guy to know where he is in his career and whether it’s really worth it for him to try out another sport. Then, he needs to prepare specifically for the sport he’s going to fight in. That’s the advice I give.”
Lineker: ‘I Definitely Still Want To Fight Rodtang’
After going toe-to-toe with the planet’s best fighters across multiple disciplines, John Lineker holds a unique perspective on the overall level of talent within ONE.
His foray into professional striking has given him firsthand experience against the best of the best:
“Having fought in Muay Thai and kickboxing helped me see that ONE has great athletes. Of course, there are other great athletes in other organizations, but ONE certainly brings together some of the best athletes in the world.”
For now, “Hands of Stone” is hoping for a return to MMA and another crack at current ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade.
With that said, he also has his sights set on a potential dream matchup that would excite fans worldwide – a clash between two of the world’s most aggressive, crowd-pleasing fighters.
Lineker’s ideal opponent, he said, is none other than Muay Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon:
“I definitely still want to fight Rodtang, mainly because his fighting style is very similar to mine. He’s a very aggressive guy. He likes to go forward and trade blows. The fans would definitely love to see that fight. Who knows, maybe one day that fight will happen. It would be very interesting.”
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