‘I’m On Another Level’ – Fabricio Andrade Vows To Hand John Lineker First Knockout Loss
Fabricio Andrade has finally received the ONE Bantamweight World Title shot he so desperately wanted, but the surging contender still thinks divisional king John Lineker was reluctant to face him.
“Wonder Boy” will challenge Lineker in the main event of ONE on Prime Video 3 next Friday, October 21, and he believes “Hands of Stone” was simply backed into a corner.
Andrade earned this opportunity with five straight victories in ONE – including three consecutive knockouts – all while calling Lineker a “chicken” on multiple occasions.
And now that he’s separated himself from every other contender, the two Brazilians will battle for the gold at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Wonder Boy” said:
“I won this chance to fight for the belt. Nobody gave it to me. Due to my performances, [Lineker] had the opportunity to speak up and say that he wanted to face me, but even after I finished three contenders in the first round, he didn’t say that I was the number-one contender to fight for the belt.
“So it just goes to show that he tried to avoid this fight by all means. Now he’s practically being forced to fight me, and that doesn’t change the fact that he tried to run and avoid this fight with me.”
The 24-year-old Andrade believes he is the best striker in ONE Championship, and that’s also where Lineker thrives.
But although both men own a phenomenal catalog of finishes, the challenger is confident that his explosive skill set is miles ahead of the defending king’s – and he plans on exposing that disparity on fight night.
The Tiger Muay Thai representative said:
“I believe he is an average seven [out of 10]. Most are in this average, a few manage to reach eight, nine, and 10 when we talk about striking. I believe that I’ve managed to overcome this average, and that’s why I believe I’m on another level. Not that Lineker has bad striking, but he’s average, and I’m above average.
“The biggest difference is the variety I bring to a fight. I use my boxing, I kick, I use the elbows, the knee. So, the diversity of weapons I bring to the fight will be the biggest difference between my striking and his.”
Fabricio Andrade Excited To Entertain U.S. Fans On Prime Video
Fabricio Andrade thinks that his wide-ranging and powerful striking arsenal will make him the first person to ever knock out longtime MMA star John Lineker.
Lineker has gone up against some of the world’s most dangerous fighters in his career, but Andrade expects to rewrite history in their World Title showdown at ONE on Prime Video 3.
“Wonder Boy” said:
“The fight ends in the first round by knockout. No matter what, it will end in the first round. Like I said, I have a lot of weapons to use in this fight, so I’ll be ready to end the fight at any time.
“I’m going to get in the cage, do my job, and stop him in the first round to take what’s mine.”
With the bout airing live in U.S. primetime on Prime Video – and given Lineker’s popularity in North America – Andrade views their matchup as the perfect time to showcase himself in front of a new audience.
If he can follow through on his promise and deliver an early finish against “Hands of Stone,” the rising star knows he’ll capture the hearts of combat sports fans – both in the United States and globally.
Andrade added:
“Lineker already has a name in America. So, when I fight him and knock him out in the first round – which no one has done yet – the American audience will see the difference in my level compared to all these fighters.
“I think that not only the American audience, but the fans in general like to see knockout artists. They like to see athletes who come in to finish the fight.
“I believe people are already impressed with my performances, but they will be even more impressed to see me finish a guy like Lineker, who has never been knocked out in MMA.”
