Lineker asks for title shot, promises to make weight

John Lineker took two tries to make weight at UFC Fight Night 56, but his fight was cancelled with Ian McCall has so sick he was briefly hospitalized. 

Lineker planned to call out UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson if he won, and said he hoped for a title shot even though the fight was cancelled.

“He paid the price for his jokes,” said Lineker, as transcribed by Guilherme Cruz for MMAFighting. “He made fun of my situation, drinking coconut water (before the faceoff) while I had to cut 0.7 pound, and God punished him [laughs].

“It happens. I’m upset because I wanted to fight, I trained hard for months and couldn’t fight, but we have to understand.”

“Since I wanted to fight him and ask for a shot at the title, why can’t I just go ahead and fight the champion? UFC, please, give me this opportunity. I have evolved a lot since my first fight in the UFC, and I’m 100 percent ready to fight for the title.”

“I made a mistake. I thought we would weigh in at 6p.m., but the weigh-ins was at 4p.m. Weight is not a problem for me anymore. I weighed in at 125.5 pounds in my last fight, and I can make 125 pounds for a title fight.”

“I need three or four months to get ready, to a good training camp. Weight is not a problem anymore.”

Lineker was asked how he planned to beat UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. 

“With hands of stone,” said Lineker. “When my hand lands, he will stop.”