John “Hands of Stone” Lineker is stepping into the realm of Muay Thai for the first time in his ONE Championship career. The former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion knows that he is up for a huge challenge in his next fight but he seems undeterred by the fact that he is stepping into uncharted territory. However, Lineker is determined to keep challenging himself and improving his legacy in the sport.

“Hands of Stone” is set to fight at ONE 168: Denver on U.S. primetime on Friday, September 6 inside Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The MMA star is going up against Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout.

John Lineker’s strategy going to the fight

Even though he is competing in a new sport against a person who is an expert in this game, he seems to be calm. Lineker plans to follow the same plan he has used throughout his MMA career: throw powerful concussive punches until the opponent is on the mat.

He declared that he would look for a KO win. Lineker said during an interview with ONE Championship, “I always look for the knockout, and it certainly won’t be any different this time. I’m going to look for the knockout all the time, round by round, and I hope I can do it. I see myself knocking out Asa Ten Pow because that’s what I like and that’s what I do when I step into the cage.”

Lineker has 18 highlight reel KOs in his resume and has made a strong name for himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA. Lineker is known for his aggressive striking and he declared that he would be doing his homework on Ten Pow. His opponent has claimed back-to-back wins via KO and is certainly going to be a challenge for his first Muay Thai bout. ‘Hands of Stone’ said, “It’s going to be a very tough fight! It’s going to be a great show because it’s going to be all about striking. I’m going to do everything I can to neutralize his strengths and get my game right.”

The MMA star’s match is happening on U.S. soil where he has built his name as a MMA artist. Meanwhile, his opponent has established his name in the U.S. after winning titles in kickboxing, boxing, and Muay Thai.

Lineker and Ten Pow represent the US in different ways

Asa Ten Pow is known as ‘The American Ninja’ and the 34-year-old lived and breathed martial arts his whole life. The American fighter had started his journey with hybrid karate at the age of 5 to protect himself from bullies. After his parents split up, Ten Pow moved to Florida with his father and took up traditional kung fu along with Muay Thai.

American football had its charms for the athletic teen, but Ten Pow’s father kept him on track when he sensed his son’s true calling. In 2022, his domestic success in combat sports led him to ONE Championship, where he is eager to become the first-ever American Muay Thai World Champion. He is a knockout artist and mixes up his Muay Thai with other fighting tactics which allows him to outsmart his opponents.

Meanwhile, John Lineker established his reputation through MMA in the US and now has a professional record of 37-10-0. The OCS Jiu-Jitsu athlete is a veteran who fought at Shooto Brazil, Jungle Fight, and UFC. He held bantamweight titles in Nitrix Fights Grand Prix and Jungle Fight. He began his career by fighting in the regional spaces in Brazil.

Now after establishing a prolific career in MMA, he will compete in Muay Thai for the first time in the promotion’s second event in North America. Are you excited for this pairing? Tell us in the comments below!