John “Hands of Stone” Lineker registered a buzzer-beating knockout to get back on track in highlight-reel fashion at ONE Fight Night 13 on Prime Video this past Friday, August 4.
The former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion and current #1 contender fended off a spirited challenge from Kim Jae Woong, but he rallied back to score the KO with just seconds remaining in their 151-pound catchweight clash in Bangkok, Thailand.
Reflecting on the battle, Lineker admits he was taken aback by the South Korean slugger’s choice of tactics.
But despite that initial shock at “The Fighting God’s” decision to grapple, the veteran Brazilian drew on all of his experience to keep pushing forward and land the finishing blow when it mattered most.
“Hands of Stone” said afterward:
“It was very gratifying when I came out with the victory. I’m very happy with this win.
“He did surprise me. I didn’t expect him to come wrestling. He surprised me when he got me down, but I have a very good jiu-jitsu instructor. I managed to survive there, and the fight turned my way.”
It’s extremely rare to see a stoppage so late into a 15-minute contest, but Lineker had no intention of bringing the judges into play.
Looking back, the longtime star feels that his win at 4:56 of round three was proof of his unrelenting desire to finish a fight – no matter how slim the odds may seem.
Lineker explained:
“I tried to knock him out until the end. My coaches told me I had to keep on going. I always go for the knockout. I don’t like to leave the fight in the hands of the judges.
“I didn’t know it was four seconds from the end, but my corner was telling me, ‘Believe, believe, believe.’ And the knockout came.”
Lineker Says His Preparation Would Change In Potential Trilogy Match With Andrade
Following John Lineker’s blistering 4-0 start in ONE – a stretch that carried him to the bantamweight MMA throne – his fortunes changed when he came up against fellow Brazilian Fabricio Andrade.
“Hands of Stone” lost the gold when he missed weight for their first bout in October 2022. And after settling for a no contest that evening, he was stopped by “Wonder Boy” in their World Title rematch for the vacant belt earlier this year.
Now back in the win column, there’s only one thing on Lineker’s mind – redemption against the reigning divisional king:
“I’m here to become a champ. I’m here to retrieve what’s mine. So, I certainly want Fabricio Andrade next.
“I think that if I fight him again, I’ll show him what I’m capable of.”
The pair fought in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand – halfway around the world for Lineker, but a stone’s throw away from Andrade, who now resides in Phuket, Thailand.
With the benefit of hindsight, Lineker believes that a change in his preparation and fight camp would allow him to perform at a higher level in a third battle with “Wonder Boy.”
He added:
“I’m going to come [to Asia] 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.”
