“I’m More Motivated to Get Into the Cage and Do My Best”- John Lineker Is Fired Up by Fabricio Andrade’s Trash Talk Ahead of Their Bantamweight Title Clash

John “Hands of Stone” Lineker faces arguably his trickiest date inside the Circle at ONE on Prime Video 3. But the Brazilian slugger is ready to whip out some of his most potent weapons to seal the deal and defend his divisional strap for the first time.

The ONE Bantamweight World Champion expects a fiery clash as soon as the contest gets underway this Friday, October 21. He further reveals that Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade’s brash words have made him even more motivated–and it should swing things in his favor inside the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Lineker remains unbothered and motivated after Andrade’s words

“Any opponent who talks nonsense about me only motivates me. I’m more motivated to get into the cage and do my best,” the Brazilian fighter shared.

“Opponents who do this kind of trash talk end up regretting it later. Because instead of irritating me, they are motivating me even more.”

Andrade proclaimed himself as the ‘uncrowned bantamweight king’ since he detonated Jeremy Pacatiw at ONE: FULL CIRCLE this past February. 

Read More- “He’s Average, and I’m Above Average”- Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade Explains Why He Is Better Than Champion John Lineker Ahead of Their Title Clash

The 25-year-old fired shots at the then bantamweight king Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes before focusing on Lineker after the latter defeated the longtime divisional king to claim the throne at ONE: LIGHTS OUT in March.

The John Lineker-Fabricio Andrade rivalry

Following his victory over “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il in June, the Muay Thai stylist proceeded to call out Lineker, describing him as a chicken for supposedly turning down offers to defend his ONE Bantamweight World Title. 

Lineker, however, understands that this could just be Andrade’s tactics to promote the fight. And the knockout specialist admits it hasn’t ruffled his feathers much.

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Instead, “Hands of Stone” is fully focused on the task at hand. He believes that determination to succeed will allow him to triumph over Andrade in the main event of ONE’s third card on Prime Video this Friday.

“It doesn’t bother me at all if that’s the way he likes to promote fights. I like to show it on top of the cage. I don’t like to keep talking. But I can take ‘Chicken’ and use it positively as if he was calling me a fighting cock, that big rooster,” the 32-year-old added.

“But none of that bothers me. I take it all in stride. I like to get in the cage and show my work. I think talking is nonsense. We have to resolve it inside the cage.”