“It Would Be Insane” – John Lineker Wants Rodtang After Muay Thai Debut Win At ONE 168: Denver

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Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker's Muay Thai debut went off without a hitch last weekend at ONE 168: Denver as he delivered the signature knockout that fans have come to expect of him.

"Hands of Stone" ripped through America's Asa Ten Pow with a second-round stoppage inside Denver, Colorado's Ball Arena on Saturday, 7 September. Lineker is renowned for his unforgiving, brawling nature once the bell rings, and he's delighted with how his inaugural outing in the art of eight limbs went down.

"I think I did very well, especially considering that my specialty is boxing. I managed to do everything I had planned, and I was very happy with the result," Lineker said.

"We never know if we're going to win by knockout or on points, but I always go for the knockout. And this fight was no different. I went in looking for the knockout the whole time and I got it once again."

Lineker has now established himself as a deadly commodity in two of ONE Championship's realms. But he still wants to reclaim the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title from Fabricio Andrade.

That said, his successful Muay Thai debut opens up more opportunities to compete inside the iconic Circle. And while MMA gold is on his mind, the Brazilian brute has eyes for ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

Rumors circulated earlier this year that Lineker was penciled in to face "The Iron Man" in a Muay Thai spectacle. But the many moving parts of the fight game prevented it from happening. Still, Lineker wants to see it come to fruition, insisting a barnburner would be inevitable.

"My focus is MMA. I don't plan on switching to Muay Thai [permanently], but I want to do other Muay Thai fights, just to stay active. I can even fight in submission grappling or do some super-fight with special rules," Lineker said.

"In Muay Thai, a fight against Rodtang [Jitmuangnon] would be interesting, and I think the fans would really enjoy watching it. I think it would be insane!

"A fight against Superlek [Kiatmoo9] or [Jonathan] Haggerty would definitely be crazy! It would be a war, I have no doubt about that. But the Muay Thai fight I have in mind would be against Rodtang. Because of the height and physical structure, this fight would be a great match. It would be a great show for the fans!"