By Kevin Estrada
John Lineker just let his hands of stone do the talking.
The heavy-handed Brazilian made the biggest shock in ONE Championship Friday evening at Inside the Matrix III by knocking out Team Lakay’s Kevin Belingon at its main event.
Known for his punching power, the fifth-ranked Lineker turned a closely fought contest into a technical knockout at the 1:16 mark of the second round, thanks to his right uppercut that catapulted into a series of strikes that fell the former bantamweight titleholder to the canvas.
With the win, Lineker hiked his MMA record to 33-9 as he won his second consecutive bout for the promotion with a knockout of the night performance.
Although he had respected his opponent’s power, the Brazilian was on a mission.
“I didn’t train hard to be here tonight. I wanted to be a champion,” he exclaimed.
“This is the reason why I came here. I came here to knock him out, and that’s why I showed my hands to him.”
It did not take a long time for him to tell who was up next for him, as he minces no words to his compatriot who currently holds the belt.
“Hey Bibiano Fernandes, I’m coming for you baby.”
For the Silencer, the defeat stings more as he was in contention as he counters the Brazilian’s punching with his kicking ability, but he was afraid to hit the big shots after getting a mild cut on his eye at the end of the opening round.
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