[brid video=”885511″ player=”25478″ title=”ONE%20Championship%20Bibano%20Fernandes%20vs%20John%20Lineker%20Faceoff%20Interview” duration=”1838″ description=”ONE Championship bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes and his ONE X title challenger John Lineker take part in a shared interview with moderator Michael Schiavello, to talk about their matchup in December.” uploaddate=”2021-10-20″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19027/thumb/” contenturl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19027/sd/885511.mp4″]
Despite not being known for his prowess as a power puncher, ONE Championship bantamweight king Bibiano Fernandes is prophesizing a knockout win over John Lineker in their title fight at ONE X in December.
Without any shadow of a doubt, Fernandes (24-4) is the greatest bantamweight in ONE Championship history. He has lost only once in his 12 bouts in the promotion, and he’s held the division title for the majority of his seven-year run in ONE Championship. However, his dominance in the division has been based on his world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Be it with submission wins or commanding grappling, he is one of the best grapplers the sport has ever seen. But not a premier striker.
That’s not to say he isn’t skilled with his fists and feet, but with just two knockout wins in 28 fights, it isn’t the strongest tool in his toolbox. Yet, in a recent “face-off” digital interview with his upcoming opponent Lineker (34-9), the 41-year-old claimed that he would be the one dealing out the fight finishing strikes when the two clash for his title.
Bibiano Fernandes prophesizes KO of John Liner at ONE X
“He said he’s going to ‘beat Bibiano.’ Beat me? No. You are going to try to beat me because a lot of guys have tried. A lot of guys said they could beat me, no problem, let them try one more time. Let him come and I will do what I did previously again and protect my belt,” Fernandes said in the interview. “My friend, you told me you’re going to knock me out too. A lot of people give me [that] attitude. I’m about to knock you out, that’s my goal. I don’t see his confidence. If you look at him, he doesn’t look confident.”
Lineker, a UFC veteran well-known for the thunder in his fists had a less grand proclamation for the pairs matchup on Dec. 5. Saying “The Flash” isn’t the first man to boast he would knock him out. However, he also wanted to let his fellow Brazilian know that Fernandes has never faced someone like him. A fighter that has handed out KO losses 16 times in his prodigious career.
“I’m looking forward to being the champion at ONE Championship. If it’s going to be him, so be it. Bibiano owns the belt, I want the belt, so I want to beat him. He has the belt and I want the belt,” Lineker said. … I respect him but he said he is going to knock me out and you know, a lot of fighters said that they are going to knock me out. But he has never fought with a guy like me before, so we will see. I’m always looking for the knockout, if it is going to be in the first round, all good. If not, I’ll lookout for a KO in any other rounds.”
ONE X takes place in Singapore on Dec. 5. Along with the battle between Fernandes and Lineker, the ONE Championship featherweight title will also be on the line when champion Thanh Le faces BJJ ace Garry Tonon. And in the cards main event, flyweight Grand Prix champion Demetrious Johnson will battle flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a four-round special rules match.
