“ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham” on Prime Video is stacked with potential “Fight of the Night” candidates, but there is one battle that could sweep the field.
Before the headliners take center stage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 29, John Lineker (36-10) and Stephen Loman (17-2) are set to clash in a high-stakes bantamweight mixed martial arts tilt.
Anything could happen in this battle between veteran slugger and rising star, and we’ve broken down why it could be the pick of the litter at ONE Fight Night 14.
1. Lineker is a knockout machine
Former bantamweight MMA king Lineker is one of most dangerous knockout artists in the sport.
The Brazilian star has lived up to his “Hands of Stone” moniker throughout his ONE tenure, with only one of his bouts seeing the final bell so far.
Lineker has reeled off four crushing knockouts, taking his career tally to 18, and the most memorable of his finishes in ONE has to be the devastating left hook KO he landed on longtime divisional king Bibiano Fernandes in March 2022.
The 33-year-old became the ONE bantamweight MMA world champion with the highlight-reel blow, and he’s hungry to get another shot at the strap.
With an aggressive boxing style and genuine firepower in both hands, Lineker is a must-see every time he steps into the ONE circle, and he’ll undoubtedly put on a show at ONE Fight Night 14.
2. Loman never has a boring fight
Loman is well worth the price of admission on his own.
“The Sniper” brings a dynamic, wushu-inspired kickboxing style to his battles, and his relentless output will no doubt keep Lineker guessing when the pair battle for striking supremacy.
Riding an incredible 11-fight win streak, Loman is 3-0 under the ONE banner, and he deserves his place as No. 2-ranked bantamweight MMA contender.
The surging Filipino star opened his account with a highlight-reel knockout win against Yusup Saadulaev in 2021, and he followed that up with victory in a pair of victories over Shoko Sato and Fernandes to put him on the cusp of a world title opportunity.
Expect Loman to bring the heat again as he faces the biggest test of his career to date in Lineker.
3. Everything to fight for
To the winner of this battle will go the ultimate spoils.
Bantamweight MMA king Fabricio Andrade is set to fight bantamweight muay Thai titleholder Jonathan Haggerty for the vacant ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title at ONE Fight Night 16 on November 3, but ONE has already confirmed that the winner of Lineker vs. Loman will be next in line for a shot at “Wonder Boy.”
For Lineker, the shot at redemption he desperately wants is on the line as he bids to wrest back the bantamweight MMA strap he failed to regain against Andrade earlier this year.
In Loman’s case, a 12th-straight victory would put him into position for a maiden world title shot, so the road to bringing a 26-pound gold belt back to The Philippines starts at ONE Fight Night 14 for the young star.
With it all to fight for on September 29, expect fireworks from “Hands of Stone” and “The Sniper” when they lock horns.
