Ultimate Fighting Championship
In December 2011, it was announced that Lineker had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to compete in their new flyweight division. [8]
Lineker made his UFC debut against Louis Gaudinot at UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller on May 5, 2012. [9] The bout was contested at a catchweight of 127 lb, as Lineker missed weight. Gaudinot defeated Lineker via technical submission (guillotine choke) in the 2nd round after an action-packed, back-and-forth first two rounds. Both participants earned Fight of the Night honors for their performances. [10]
Lineker was expected to face Yasuhiro Urushitani on September 1, 2012, at UFC 151. [11] However, after UFC 151 was cancelled, Lineker/Urushitani was rescheduled and took place on November 10, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 6. [12] In a competitive three rounds, Lineker's power was the difference in the fight as he edged Urushitani via unanimous decision. [13]
For his third UFC fight, Lineker faced Azamat Gashimov on May 18, 2013, at UFC on FX 8. [14] He won the fight via TKO in the second round. [15]
Lineker was expected to face Phil Harris on August 3, 2013, at UFC 163. [16] However, Harris was forced out of the bout and Lineker instead faced promotional newcomer José Maria. [17] Lineker missed the 126 pound weight limit for a non-title flyweight fight, weighing in at 129 pounds. As a result, he surrendered 20 percent of his purse to his opponent and the bout was changed to a 129-pound catchweight affair. [18] After a back-and-forth first round, Lineker won the fight via TKO in the second round. [19]
Following that victory, Lineker was once again scheduled to face off against Phil Harris on October 26, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 30, and he won the fight by TKO. [20] Lineker missed weight for the third time in his UFC career, causing his camp to re-assess his weight class. [21]
Lineker faced Ali Bagautinov on February 1, 2014, at UFC 169. Lineker again missed weight on his first attempt. He was allowed one hour to make the weight and succeeded after 45 minutes. [22] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [23]
Lineker faced Alp Ozkilic on July 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 45. [24] He won the fight via KO due to punches in the third round. The win also garnered Lineker his second Fight of the Night bonus award. [25]
Lineker was expected to face Ian McCall on November 8, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 56 as the co-main event. [26] However, just hours after both fighters had successfully made weight, it was announced that Mccall had been pulled from the event due to a blood infection. The bout was scrapped from the event entirely. [27] [28]
The bout with McCall eventually took place on January 31, 2015, at UFC 183. [29] At the weigh in, Lineker again failed to make the flyweight weight limit. He was over by four pounds and was subsequently fined 30% of this purse. [30] Because of the repeated failed weigh ins, he was forced to move up to the bantamweight division (135lb). [31] He won the bout by unanimous decision. [32]
Making his bantamweight return, Lineker faced Francisco Rivera in a bantamweight bout on September 5, 2015 at UFC 191. [33] He won the fight via submission in the first round. The wild slugfest earned both participants, Fight of the Night honors. [34] [35]
Lineker was expected to face Cody Garbrandt on February 21, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 83. [36] However, Lineker pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event citing illness and was replaced by Augusto Mendes. [37] [38]
Lineker faced Rob Font on May 14, 2016, at UFC 198. [39] He won the fight via unanimous decision in round 3. [40]
Lineker next faced Michael McDonald on July 13, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 91. [41] He won the fight via knockout in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus. [42] [43]
Lineker faced John Dodson on October 1, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 96. [44] The bout took place at a catchweight of 136.5 lbs as Lineker missed weight. He won the back and forth fight via split decision. [45]
Lineker faced former UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207. [46] He lost via unanimous decision. [47]
Lineker faced Marlon Vera on October 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 119. [48] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [49]
Lineker was scheduled to face Jimmie Rivera on December 30, 2017 at UFC 219, replacing the injured Dominick Cruz. [50] On December 24, it was reported that Lineker was forced to pull from the fight due to tooth infection. [51] Subsequently the fight was cancelled. [52]
Lineker faced Brian Kelleher on May 12, 2018, at UFC 224. [53] He won the fight via knockout in the third round. [54]
Lineker was expected to face Dominick Cruz on January 26, 2019, at UFC 233. [55] It was reported on December 11, 2018 that Cruz injured his shoulder and pulled out of the fight. [56] As a result of the cancellation of UFC 233, [57] [58] Lineker was rescheduled to face Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fight Night 143. [59] However, it was reported on January 10, 2019, that Lineker was pulled from the bout due to rib injury. [60]
The bout with Sandhagen was rescheduled and eventually took place on April 27, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson. [61] Lineker lost the fight via split decision. [62]
Lineker was scheduled to face Rob Font on June 22, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 154, replacing injured Cody Stamann. [63] In turn, Lineker was pulled from the bout for undisclosed reasons. [64]
On July 2, 2019, it was announced that Lineker had been released by UFC, [65] and was signed by ONE Championship on July 8, 2019. [66]
ONE Championship
Lineker made his promotional debut against Muin Gafurov at ONE Championship: Dawn Of Valor on October 26, 2019. [67] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [68]
Lineker made his sophomore appearance in the organization against Kevin Belingon at ONE Championship: Inside the Matrix 3 on November 13, 2020. [69] He defeated Belingon by second-round technical knockout. [70]
Lineker was scheduled to face Stephen Loman at ONE on TNT 4 on April 28, 2021. [71] Loman would later withdraw from the card, as he tested positive for COVID-19, and was replaced by Troy Worthen. [72] He won the bout via KO in the first round. [73]
ONE Bantamweight World Champion
Lineker was scheduled to face reigning champion Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight Championship at ONE: X on December 3, 2021. [74] However due to the pandemic, the event was postponed and the bout was moved to ONE: Bad Blood on February 11, 2022. [75] Lineker tested positive for COVID days before the event and the bout was pulled. [76] The bout was rescheduled for ONE: Lights Out on March 11, 2022. [77] Lineker won the fight by second-round knockout to become the new ONE Bantamweight World Champion. [78] [79] The win also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. [80]
Lineker was scheduled to make his first bantamweight title defense against Fabrício Andrade at ONE on Prime Video 3 on October 21, 2022. [81] At weigh-ins, John Lineker missed weight, coming in at 145.75 lbs, .75 pounds over the limit. Lineker was stripped of the ONE Bantamweight World Championship and the bout proceeded at a catchweight with only Andrade being able to win the title. Andrade also got 20% of his purse. [82] During the beginning of the third round, Andrade accidentally connected with a strike to the groin of Lineker, who could not continue. The fight was declared a no contest. [83]
A rematch between Lineker and Andrade for the vacant ONE Bantamweight World Championship took place on February 25, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 7. [84] He lost the bout by technical knockout after his corner stopped the fight after the fourth round. [85]
Post-championship
Lineker faced Kim Jae-woong on August 5, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 13. [86] At the weigh-ins, Lineker weighed in at 151 pounds, 6 pounds over the bantamweight limit. The bouts proceeded at catchweight with him being fined 25% his individual purse, which went to Kim. [87] He won the bout via technical knockout in the third round. [88]
Lineker faced Stephen Loman on September 30, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 14. [89] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [90]
Replacing Sage Northcutt on short notice, Lineker faced Shinya Aoki in a openweight bout on January 28, 2024, at ONE 165. [91] He lost the fight by rear-naked submission in the first round. [92]
