Fabricio Andrade Predicts Bittersweet Finish of John Lineker At ONE Fight Night 7

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Bangkok, February 24: Long before Fabricio Andrade strapped on a pair of 4-ounce gloves, the youthful scrapper looked up to John "Hands of Stone" Lineker as a role model.

But as the two are set to collide in a heated rematch this weekend, Andrade feels bittersweet. The Brazilians will face off this Saturday (February 25) in the main event of ONE Fight Night 7 in Bangkok, Thailand, for the vacant ONE Bantamweight World Title.

When "Wonder Boy" Andrade first fought under mixed martial arts rules in September 2014 after a successful tenure in Muay Thai, Lineker was already 31 fights into his professional career and somebody that the 25-year-old admired.

But as the combat sports universe drew the bantamweights together off the back of their frightening streaks, the admiration Andrade held for Lineker was swapped for animosity.

They say to work until your idols become your rivals, and for Andrade, the sentiment could not ring truer.

Even so, the Muay Thai phenom still acknowledges Lineker and his accomplishments over the course of his 45-fight career. But come Friday night, Andrade predicts an abrupt closing to the most heated rivalry in the promotion's recent history.

"I have all the respect for the history that he built. I have been watching him for a long time. He's been around for a long time. So he got my respect for that," Andrade said.

"But now, it's my time. He's talking about a different time. If he still wants to be here, if he still wants to fight, that's up to him. I'm going to do what I got to do; it's business. I'm going to say what I have to say when we are together in the ring. I'm going to knock him. It's just business."

Andrade's momentum was riding high up until the duo's first meeting last October, one that interrupted the Fortaleza native's run of form when ONE on Prime Video 3's main event unceremoniously ended in a no contest.

The Muay Thai specialist had won his first five fights under ONE's banner, three by knockout in the first round.

Andrade looked to be on the cusp of finishing his compatriot to claim the World Title last time around, but a low blow to Lineker took victory out of former's hands, leaving the crown without a home for another night.

So this weekend, the rematch for "Wonder Boy" is about culminating his destiny in claiming the ONE Bantamweight World Championship - and doing it in style against his fiery compatriot.

"I think this is the fight for me to make a statement. The first fight was good, but I don't believe I performed at my best," Andrade said.

"Coming to this fight is my chance to make beating Lineker look easy. When I do that, it will be a huge statement, and people will be talking about this fight for a long time."

Source: Media Release