One Championship: John Lineker plans to give a show to the fans – ‘that’s how I know to fight’
- Former UFC star says he’s going to ‘fight the way I always fight’ on One debut in Jakarta, Indonesia
- ‘Hands of Stone’ faces Muin Gafurov on Friday night – ‘my plan is to go up there and knock him out’
John Lineker has never been to Indonesia – but he plans to make the most of his trip.
The former UFC fighter known as “Hands of Stone” will make his first Asian appearance at One Championship’s “Dawn of Valor” event in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, on Friday night.
The 29-year-old bantamweight from Paranagua, Brazil, with a professional record of 31-9, will face fellow bantamweight Muin “Tajik” Gafurov of Tajikistan (16-2), who already has five wins under his name with One Championship.
Both of them being strikers, this match promises to be a slugfest.
And that’s the way Lineker wants it, telling the Post that his game plan was simple: “My strategy is to get up there and knock him out.”
Lineker’s last bout with the UFC, where he fought 16 times, was in April, when he lost by split decision to Cory Sandhagen at Fight Night 150 in Sunrise, Florida, in the US.
He says he’s looking forward to a new future in Asia with One Championship.
“It’s a great event,” said Lineker, who has been fighting competitively since 2008. “I value the fighters and the weight system is better on everyone’s bodies because nobody has to subject themselves to extreme weight cuts.”
He added: “I’m really excited. It’s a high-level event, so I want to start on my front foot. I’m going to fight the way I always fight. Give a show to the fans. That’s the way I’ve always fought and how I know to fight.”
Training privately, Lineker said he was still able to see a bit of Jakarta, which despite its chronic traffic jams and general city chaos, has very hospitable people and places to go.
“It’s a different place. I love to come to different places. So I’m really happy,” he said.
And as for his future with One Championship after his Asian debut in Jakarta? “As many fights as I can do. I want to fight until I can’t fight anymore,” he said.
