Opinion: With ongoing weight issues, can John Lineker live up to potential?

Nick Baldwin gives his opinion on UFC Fight Night 96 headliner John Lineker once again missing weight.

On Friday morning, John Lineker did something he almost does more often than not: miss weight. Ahead of his UFC Fight Night 96 main event clash with John Dodson, the UFC contender tipped the scale at 136.5 pounds, half a pound over the bantamweight limit.

Not only did Lineker weigh in over the agreed limit, he did so at a heavier weight division, bantamweight. After two wins — and successful weight cuts — at 135 pounds, this was the first time the Brazilian missed weight in the new division.

The only reason Lineker is fighting at bantamweight in the first place is he was forced to move up last year after consistently missing the 125-pound flyweight limit. This was Lineker’s fifth time missing weight, twice more than any other UFC athlete, ever. Furthermore, Lineker is second on the list of fighters to miss weight in two different divisions, the first being Anthony Johnson (H/T Mike Bohn for the stats).

Lineker is a fantastic talent who’d likely have quite a few more performance bonuses than he already has under his belt if making weight wasn’t an issue (fighters who miss weight are ineligible for post-fight bonuses). His variety of strikes and power on the feet is impressive, making him a tough task for anyone at bantamweight or flyweight. But if he continues to miss weight, will Lineker ever live up to his potential? Will he ever claim the gold many people believe he could claim? Or will he always find himself struggling to make weight, constantly thinking about the scale rather than the fight, and back to the drawing board every other fight?

If Lineker doesn’t sort out his weight issues (moving up, hiring a nutritionist, etc.), he’ll find himself, at the very least, not being taken seriously by media, fans, and, most importantly, the UFC.

If done improperly, however, cutting weight is very dangerous, so if he does choose to move up a division yet again, I wouldn’t blame him. But at 5’3, featherweight likely isn’t the best option for Lineker. At least doing a trial run with a nutritionist, if not fully hiring one, probably is.

Although missing weight isn’t nearly as serious as a criminal offence, which is something that more than a handful of UFC fighters have committed at one time or another, an infraction is an infraction. Lineker continues to break the rules, and the UFC will have to take action.

The promotion has already taken some action by limiting his performance bonuses and forcing him to move up a division, but Lineker is a special case in the sense that he is a repeated offender. I respect the UFC matchmaker’s decision to make Lineker jump up to bantamweight last year, yanking a potential title shot from him. But more needs to happen. If they force him up to featherweight against substantially larger fighters, I’d be fine with that. I’d also be OK with the promotion making him hire a nutritionist (especially because he probably should have years ago).

But I don’t want to continue just seeing 20 percent fines taken from his fight purse. That’s OK for a one-time mishap but not for a long-term issue. It sometimes works, as some fighters who consistently have a tough time hitting the limit have gone out of their way to make weight by either hiring a nutritionist to help with the entire process or moving up a division. But it clearly hasn’t worked for Lineker.

Considering the fact that mixed martial arts is different to other sports in that it is largely based off drawing ability, the UFC will likely keep Lineker on the roster, as he’s a top contender that provides legitimate excitement. That said, I wouldn’t be against Lineker having to prove to UFC matchmakers that he can make weight in a smaller organization.

We’ve all heard of second chances — maybe even third chances. Lineker’s on his sixth chance. He obviously hasn’t learned from his past mistakes. The punishment he’s already received clearly hasn’t been enough.

Action needs to be taken, once again. But, this time, more severe action.

Nick Baldwin gives his opinion on UFC Fight Night 96 headliner John Lineker once again missing weight.

On Friday morning, John Lineker did something he almost does more often than not: miss weight. Ahead of his UFC Fight Night 96 main event clash with John Dodson, the UFC contender tipped the scale at 136.5 pounds, half a pound over the bantamweight limit.

Not only did Lineker weigh in over the agreed limit, he did so at a heavier weight division, bantamweight. After two wins — and successful weight cuts — at 135 pounds, this was the first time the Brazilian missed weight in the new division.

The only reason Lineker is fighting at bantamweight in the first place is he was forced to move up last year after consistently missing the 125-pound flyweight limit. This was Lineker’s fifth time missing weight, twice more than any other UFC athlete, ever. Furthermore, Lineker is second on the list of fighters to miss weight in two different divisions, the first being Anthony Johnson (H/T Mike Bohn for the stats).

Lineker is a fantastic talent who’d likely have quite a few more performance bonuses than he already has under his belt if making weight wasn’t an issue (fighters who miss weight are ineligible for post-fight bonuses). His variety of strikes and power on the feet is impressive, making him a tough task for anyone at bantamweight or flyweight. But if he continues to miss weight, will Lineker ever live up to his potential? Will he ever claim the gold many people believe he could claim? Or will he always find himself struggling to make weight, constantly thinking about the scale rather than the fight, and back to the drawing board every other fight?

If Lineker doesn’t sort out his weight issues (moving up, hiring a nutritionist, etc.), he’ll find himself, at the very least, not being taken seriously by media, fans, and, most importantly, the UFC.

If done improperly, however, cutting weight is very dangerous, so if he does choose to move up a division yet again, I wouldn’t blame him. But at 5’3, featherweight likely isn’t the best option for Lineker. At least doing a trial run with a nutritionist, if not fully hiring one, probably is.

Although missing weight isn’t nearly as serious as a criminal offence, which is something that more than a handful of UFC fighters have committed at one time or another, an infraction is an infraction. Lineker continues to break the rules, and the UFC will have to take action.

The promotion has already taken some action by limiting his performance bonuses and forcing him to move up a division, but Lineker is a special case in the sense that he is a repeated offender. I respect the UFC matchmaker’s decision to make Lineker jump up to bantamweight last year, yanking a potential title shot from him. But more needs to happen. If they force him up to featherweight against substantially larger fighters, I’d be fine with that. I’d also be OK with the promotion making him hire a nutritionist (especially because he probably should have years ago).

But I don’t want to continue just seeing 20 percent fines taken from his fight purse. That’s OK for a one-time mishap but not for a long-term issue. It sometimes works, as some fighters who consistently have a tough time hitting the limit have gone out of their way to make weight by either hiring a nutritionist to help with the entire process or moving up a division. But it clearly hasn’t worked for Lineker.

Considering the fact that mixed martial arts is different to other sports in that it is largely based off drawing ability, the UFC will likely keep Lineker on the roster, as he’s a top contender that provides legitimate excitement. That said, I wouldn’t be against Lineker having to prove to UFC matchmakers that he can make weight in a smaller organization.

We’ve all heard of second chances — maybe even third chances. Lineker’s on his sixth chance. He obviously hasn’t learned from his past mistakes. The punishment he’s already received clearly hasn’t been enough.

Action needs to be taken, once again. But, this time, more severe action.