John Lineker has a fight with Alptekin Ozkilic at this Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller, but he also has another battle on his hands.
The Brazilian must first make the 126-pound weight limit for a flyweight contest, something Lineker feels will happen without an issue, via Marcelo Russio of Combate.com (translated by Bloody Elbow).
I’m fine with my weight now, I’m only 0,8 pound above of the divisional limit. Fortunately, we did a very good job with a lot of professionals: physician, nutritionist and physiologist. I’m sure that I’ll be in the right weight with no problem. This first win is already mine
…My camp was a little different for this time. My coaches focused a lot in wrestling and jiu-jitsu but it doesn’t mean that I’m not ready to strike and go for the KO, which is my speciality. We studied a lot my opponent, I’m ready for any situation in the fight. I hope that I can be close to the belt again if I win.
Lineker has struggled mightily to make weight during his UFC tenure, missing weight on three occasions. The UFC has kept Lineker around despite the weight struggles, mainly due to the lack of depth within the flyweight division and the fact that he’s been pretty exciting in his victories.
The Brazilian was on a four-fight winning streak with three of those wins coming by way of TKO before running into Ali Bagautinov at UFC 169.
Lineker has the makings to be a star in the division if he can get his weight struggles under control. He’s won his fair share of fights and in exciting fashion, but the UFC won’t tolerate the guessing game on weigh-in day if the results aren’t there.
Hopefully, Lineker really does have the weight under control because the last thing he needs when facing an opponent who will look to grind him down like Ozkilic is to tax his body even more in the sauna.
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