Top-ranked ONE bantamweight MMA contender John “Hands of Stone” Lineker has taken a liking to Muay Thai.
The hard-hitting Brazilian returns to the world of Muay Thai against Alexey Balyko
this Saturday, October 4, at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
This comes after his victorious Muay Thai debut last month, where he knocked out Asa Ten Pow at ONE 168: Denver to announce his arrival in “the art of eight limbs” in style.
In this fight, expect nothing different as he vows to finish the Russian in memorable fashion.
“As I always say in all of my interviews – and I will repeat it because it is true, and it is what I like to do – I go into the cage looking for the knockout all the time. And it will be no different in this fight. I fight to knock out my opponents,” he said.
“I don’t like to leave the result in the hands of the judges. I’m going to go for the knockout, I want the knockout, and I’m going to knock him out.”
While he expects both of them to rely on their hands in this fight, he believes that’s where their similarities will end.
Lineker sees this match as a clash between someone who likes to fight on the inside – him – and someone who utilizes speed and movement – Balyko.
Still, that won’t deter Lineker from moving forward and targeting a KO win.
“My strong point is boxing, and I think his style is very similar to mine. I think what makes the difference is that I’m a guy who moves forward a lot, and he’s a guy who moves more, especially to the side and backwards,” he said.
“He doesn’t move forward much. So, I think that’s what differentiates my style from his. I’m a guy who always moves forward looking for the knockout, and he’s a guy who moves a lot in the cage.”
