John Lineker reminded the world why he should never be counted out this past weekend at ONE Fight Night 13. The former ONE Bantamweight World Champion pulled off another incredible knockout win against Kim Jae Woong at the Friday, August 4, event, but it didn’t come easy.
Lineker looked to be in trouble against the South Korean slugger, who seamlessly added wrestling into his dangerous striking arsenal. But in the dying seconds of the final round, “Hands of Stone” lived up to his moniker by landing a devastating left hook that floored his foe and handed him the crucial victory.
John Lineker had to go through some initial setbacks
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While he was caught a bit off-guard by Kim’s strategy, the Brazilian star relied on his undaunted belief in himself to dig deep, and he expressed his satisfaction for getting back into the winner’s column against such a game opponent. “It’s very good. It was very gratifying when I came out with the victory. I’m very happy with this win,” the American Top Team representative said during his post-fight interview.
“He was actually respectful. I mean, this is what we do. We’re fighting each other, but I have no hard feelings. I respect him more now than before.” It was a much-needed victory for Lineker, after he dropped a disappointing loss in his World Title rematch with Fabricio Andrade earlier this year.
READ MORE – “I’ll Be Prepared To Fight Anyone” – Buchecha Says No Way He Won’t Be in Action at ONE Fight Night 13
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The 33-year-old veteran still remains the top contender for the bantamweight crown with his win over Kim, and he fully intends to stay there until he earns another shot at the divisional crown.
John Lineker has also worked out his future plans
In fact, Lineker broke down how he would approach a third bout with his Brazilian compatriot in his post-fight interview on Friday evening. “I’m here to become a champ. I’m here to retrieve what’s mine, so certainly [I’m coming for] Fabricio Andrade,” he said.
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“I think that if I fight him again, I’ll show him what I’m capable of. I’m going to come earlier so I can fight on an even table with him. I’ve got to get here earlier. It’s very difficult to fight coming from Brazil in a short time and fighting people that live here.”