Lineker to UFC: ‘If you don’t like me or my style just let me go’

Bantamweight contender John Lineker is not pleased with his lack of an active fight schedule.

I guess you could say that John Lineker is looking for a fight.

The Brazilian men’s bantamweight striker is coming off a tough defeat to Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fort Lauderdale, but he seems more displeased that he doesn’t have another fight booked already.

“My last opponent fought 4 times in a year,” Lineker tweeted. “He already has another fight! Sean likes him! I have fought only 4 times since 2016! I need to fight! If you dont like me or my style just let me go!!!”

For what it’s worth, Lineker was scheduled to face Jimmie Rivera at UFC 219 in December 2017, but a tooth infection led to him withdrawing just days before fight night. He was also supposed to face Cory Sandhagen at UFC Brooklyn this past January, only to pull out with a rib injury, hence the fight was scheduled for April. So some of Lineker’s inactivity is down to Lineker, lest we forget his broken jaw suffered in his loss to T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 207 in December 2016.

In an interview with MMAjunkie, Lineker further voiced his frustrations with the UFC, particularly matchmaker Sean Shelby.

“I’ve fought four times since 2016,” Lineker said. “I have five kids. I need to pay my bills. I cannot survive like this.”

“I don’t know if it’s something personal against me,” he said. “If it is, just tell me and let me go, because I have to fight. I have to move on. It’s my career. It’s my life. I can’t be stuck this way.”

Alex Davis, Lineker’s manager, chipped in with his own thoughts on the situation and sees it as a case where some UFC fighters are getting preferential treatment in terms of their ability to get fights booked.

“The reality is staring us in the face,” he said. “We’re in a situation where certain guys are getting accelerated and other guys aren’t. In his case, it’s not fair, because he’s a very exciting, dynamic, top-level fighter. He deserves better than this.”

Davis says that Lineker (31-9) has a jiu-jitsu match lined up in July while he awaits his next UFC bout. As far as Lineker’s contract situation, the 16-fight veteran has just two bouts left on his current deal.