John Lineker isn’t worrying about Fabricio Andrade’s outside-the-cage antics main as much as their rematch for the ONE Championship title Friday in Thailand. In reality, he’s amused by them.
Andrade mentioned on this week’s episode of the Trocação Franca podcast he was “stunned” his fellow Brazilian agreed to operating it again proper after their first bantamweight title bout led to no-contest attributable to an unintended low blow.
“The daddy of a pal of mine informed my pal, ‘John is loopy to struggle this man once more,’” Lineker responded on Trocação Franca. “I actually am loopy [laughs]. … Fabricio could be very powerful, a proficient fighter, however I’ve fought guys manner higher than him.”
“Concern is a phrase I don’t know,” he continued. “It doesn’t exist in my dictionary and can by no means exist in my life.”
Lineker jokes the one factor that considerations him this time round is to guard his groin.
“He’s a proficient man, a tricky one, so I’ve to work onerous,” Lineker mentioned. “I’ll predict a third-round end once more. And don’t hit me within the nutsack once more, Fabricio [laughs].”
“He mentioned he was going to knock me out within the first spherical, and I mentioned that may by no means occur. I’ve 50 fights and have solely been knocked down as soon as — and got here again to win the struggle. However for him to knock me out, that may by no means occur. And I mentioned I used to be going to catch him within the third. And look, he kneed my nutsack within the third. He knew I used to be going to catch him [laughs].”
As for Andrade sporting a shirt along with his face on the physique of a rooster, Lineker mentioned “I’ve enjoyable with it.”
“I like to all the time show individuals unsuitable my total life,” Lineker mentioned. “I’ll present I’m the true champion on this struggle, that I’m right here for an extended reign. I see individuals saying if I fought Fabricio 10 occasions it could be the identical, however I’ll present it’s going to be utterly completely different.”
Lineker and Andrade compete for the vacant title since “Palms of Stone” missed weight final time round and the bout ended with no winner. The UFC veteran blames a miscalculation for the difficulty and added “I’m one hundred pc on level” now.
“I don’t like to offer excuses and say I wasn’t OK, however reality is, my head wasn’t good as a result of I misplaced the title on the size,” Lineker mentioned. “That messed me up, given my historical past [of missing weight in the UFC]. That made me really feel dangerous, the very fact I wouldn’t take the title with a win. I’m extra centered and decided than earlier than.”
