It didn’t take long for “Hands of Stone” to find a new promotion.
The next chapter of John Lineker’s MMA career will take place under the ONE Championship banner.
One week after the UFC released him, Lineker (31-9) announced on Monday that he’s signed with the Asian MMA promotion.
“I will answer all the questions out there about myself in the Ring!” Lineker wrote on Twitter. “People will be changing the channel to watch me fight! I will continue to do what I love! Fight and put on a show! Thank you [ONE] for having me!”
Lineker’s UFC career came to an unceremonious end after he withdrew from his UFC Greenville co-main event spot vs. Rob Font. The Brazilian had accepted the fight on short notice, then pulled out on the eve of the weigh-ins after an apparent facial cut as he sought to shed the necessary weight to make 135 lbs. Shortly thereafter, he was officially released after seven years competing inside the Octagon, compiling a 12-4 record along the way.
When asked about the decision to release Lineker, Dana White said that the matchmakers were not pleased with John, also adding that “the guy wasn’t being professional.” He notably brought up Lineker’s history of missing weight, which impacted him at both flyweight and bantamweight.
MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz confirmed that Lineker will compete as a bantamweight, which is 145 lbs under ONE Championship rules.