Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker isn't done chasing gold just yet. The heavy-hitting Brazilian is still eyeing a rematch with current titleholder Fabricio Andrade-his longtime rival and the man who took the belt from him.
Their last meeting ended in a punishing fourth-round stoppage, with Lineker unable to continue after absorbing significant damage. That result handed the crown to Andrade, just months after their initial clash ended in a no contest.

Now ranked as the division's top contender, Lineker is laser-focused on settling the score. He's made it clear that no other opponent matters to him at this point. "I don't see any other candidate for the title other than myself. Regardless of whether or not I have faced the athletes in the top five, I know that none of them are ahead of me in the rankings," Lineker stated confidently.
"What I want now is to fight for the title again, and I have no interest in fighting any other opponent other than Fabricio Andrade."
Since losing the championship in early 2023, the veteran fighter hasn't stepped away from combat sports. Although he hasn't been seen in the MMA cage as frequently, Lineker kept himself busy with bouts in Muay Thai and kickboxing under the ONE banner.
He not only stayed active, but also collected wins-two out of his three MMA fights and a pair of victories in the striking-only formats.
The 34-year-old says these fights served both practical and strategic purposes. "At first, it was to keep myself active and also to be able to earn some extra money. But it was also good because I was able to test myself, and I believe I did very well. I was very happy with that," Lineker explained.
Regardless of the sport or discipline, his end goal remains the same-another shot at Andrade. "I actually have no interest in fighting any other athlete because the fight that makes sense now is against Fabricio Andrade. My thoughts, my focus, and my target are only Fabricio. I'm not looking at any other opponent other than Fabricio Andrade."