Back to bantamweight, John Lineker ‘feeling way better’ for UFC 191 bout vs. Francisco Rivera

John Lineker struggled to make 125 pounds throughout his entire UFC career, and is finally moving up to bantamweight.

The Brazilian striker, who missed weight four times during his 6-2 run as a flyweight inside the Octagon, meets Francisco Rivera in a 135-pound bout at UFC 191 on Sept. 5, and feels better now that he’s back to the bantamweight division.

“I was sad because that win over Ian McCall would get me a title shot, but I understand them moving me up to 135 pounds,” Lineker told MMAFighting.com. “That division wasn’t the best for me. I was too heavy. I understand Dana White making me move up to bantamweight. That’s my original weight class to begin with. I won the Jungle Fight title in this division. I have to be where I fight better.”

Lineker makes his bantamweight debut after winning six of his last seven fights with four knockouts, and didn’t change much in his training camp for UFC 191.

“It’s basically the same strong preparation I did when I was fighting at flyweight, but now I train with heavier sparring partners to adapt to this division,” he said. “I’m feeling way better now, training at 145 pounds. I train better at this weight, and I can easily cut to 135. I’ll fight at my best, and I will perform better in the fight.”

Before signing with the UFC and moving down to 125 pounds, Lineker racked up a 19-5 record facing heavier opponents in Brazil, and he believes his style matches better against bigger, taller competition.

“I fight better when I’m fighting taller opponents,” he said. “I’m used to fighting taller opponents, so that’s not an issue for me. I adapt better to this type of fight.”

Rivera will have a huge height and reach advantage over Lineker when they meet in Las Vegas, but the Brazilian is confident he will be able to finish the California-native.

“I like this fight,” Lineker said. “What I like the most about this fight is that he likes to trade punches, just like me, but we don’t know if he wants to trade punches with me. This is a great match-up for me style-wise, but we’ll see if he will try to stand against me.”

“I see myself knocking him out, just like in every fight,” he added. “I hope I get another knockout.”

After losing a title shot at 125 pounds due to his weight cutting issues, Lineker is not in a hurry, but will work his way up for a shot at 135-pound champion T.J. Dillashaw.

“I try not to think about this too much. I just want to fight well,” he said. “(Rivera) was well ranked in the division, but recently moved down. I want to fight well and win, and leave this talk for later. Like I did at flyweight, I want to slowly move up the bantamweight rankings. One day I’ll get the chance to fight the champion.”

John Lineker struggled to make 125 pounds throughout his entire UFC career, and is finally moving up to bantamweight.

The Brazilian striker, who missed weight four times during his 6-2 run as a flyweight inside the Octagon, meets Francisco Rivera in a 135-pound bout at UFC 191 on Sept. 5, and feels better now that he’s back to the bantamweight division.

“I was sad because that win over Ian McCall would get me a title shot, but I understand them moving me up to 135 pounds,” Lineker told MMAFighting.com. “That division wasn’t the best for me. I was too heavy. I understand Dana White making me move up to bantamweight. That’s my original weight class to begin with. I won the Jungle Fight title in this division. I have to be where I fight better.”

Lineker makes his bantamweight debut after winning six of his last seven fights with four knockouts, and didn’t change much in his training camp for UFC 191.

“It’s basically the same strong preparation I did when I was fighting at flyweight, but now I train with heavier sparring partners to adapt to this division,” he said. “I’m feeling way better now, training at 145 pounds. I train better at this weight, and I can easily cut to 135. I’ll fight at my best, and I will perform better in the fight.”

Before signing with the UFC and moving down to 125 pounds, Lineker racked up a 19-5 record facing heavier opponents in Brazil, and he believes his style matches better against bigger, taller competition.

“I fight better when I’m fighting taller opponents,” he said. “I’m used to fighting taller opponents, so that’s not an issue for me. I adapt better to this type of fight.”

Rivera will have a huge height and reach advantage over Lineker when they meet in Las Vegas, but the Brazilian is confident he will be able to finish the California-native.

“I like this fight,” Lineker said. “What I like the most about this fight is that he likes to trade punches, just like me, but we don’t know if he wants to trade punches with me. This is a great match-up for me style-wise, but we’ll see if he will try to stand against me.”

“I see myself knocking him out, just like in every fight,” he added. “I hope I get another knockout.”

After losing a title shot at 125 pounds due to his weight cutting issues, Lineker is not in a hurry, but will work his way up for a shot at 135-pound champion T.J. Dillashaw.

“I try not to think about this too much. I just want to fight well,” he said. “(Rivera) was well ranked in the division, but recently moved down. I want to fight well and win, and leave this talk for later. Like I did at flyweight, I want to slowly move up the bantamweight rankings. One day I’ll get the chance to fight the champion.”