Filipino rising mixed martial arts star Stephen Loman saw what Brazilian Fabricio Andrade did to fellow Brazilian John Lineker during their first match at ONE Fight Night 3 back in October 2022 and firmly believed that a sequel is waiting to happen in the rematch.
Andrade and Lineker fought an unfortunate no-contest during their first meeting for the vacant ONE bantamweight world title. The two Brazilian stars, though, will get their highly anticipated rematch at ONE Fight Night 7 on Feb. 25 at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The winner in the rematch is expected to fight Loman in the nearest future.
Loman, the third-ranked bantamweight contender, said in an interview with The MMA Superfan that Andrade’s diverse striking will be a huge problem for Lineker in the rematch.
The Team Lakay fighter pointed out how Andrade’s versatility allows him to go for knockout shots across all elevations.
“As for Andrade, I think that he really is a knockout artist. He uses his striking a lot. His kicks, knees, and his pressure against Lineker were tremendous as well. He has these quick and beautiful combinations as well. I think that’s Andrade’s advantage. He’s a problem for John Lineker,” Loman said.
Andrade went on a tear in his first fight against Lineker for the vacant bantamweight strap, but his night ended when he accidentally landed a knee strike down Lineker’s groin in the third round.
With Lineker unable to continue past the mandatory recovery period, the bout was officially ruled a no-contest.
Despite the anticlimactic end to an otherwise great match, the rivalry between Andrade and Lineker remained at a fever pitch and their showdown in the Thai capital city will add another chapter to the two Brazilian stars’ legacy in ONE Championship.
Andrade, the top-ranked bantamweight contender, and Lineker, the second-ranked bantamweight contender, have perfect records in ONE Championship and have seven finishes between them. – ONE Championship release
