Muay Thai is on the agenda once again for former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker. “Hands of Stone” is set to make his second appearance in the striking-only sport when he faces Russian knockout artist Alexey Balyko at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 4.
BANGER ALERT 🚨 Former bantamweight MMA king John Lineker hunts for his second win in Muay Thai against Russian bruiser Alexey Balyko at ONE Fight Night 25 on @primevideo! 💥👊#ONEFightNight25 | Fri Oct 4 at 8PM ET/5PM PT
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime
🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on Sky Sports… pic.twitter.com/QXUkDapLAX— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 24, 2024
Lineker made a successful debut in “the art of eight limbs” at ONE 168: Denver earlier this month, when he crushed American Muay Thai star Asa Ten Pow inside two rounds. The Brazilian’s trademark power punches did the damage once again, as Ten Pow was unable to withstand the constant barrage.
Fists of FURY 👊💥 Former bantamweight MMA king John Lineker stops Asa Ten Pow in his Muay Thai debut!
Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE 168: Denver!#ONE168 | 🔴 LIVE NOW
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🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime 👉… pic.twitter.com/CMAOTKZ9ao— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 7, 2024
Lineker has been trying some different things in recent times. Earlier this year, the 34-year-old stepped in on just a day’s notice to face Japanese MMA legend Shinya Aoki in a lightweight MMA contest. He came up short by submission that night, but he has won his last two against top contenders in his native bantamweight MMA division.
Balyko looms as the perfect dance partner for a exciting tussle with Lineker. The 31-year-old is 3-1 in his ONE tenure to date, with two knockouts to his credit along the way. His punches have been his strong suit in his career to date, so the judges are unlikely to required when he faces his biggest test yet.
BLASTING OFF 🚀 Alexey Balyko starts ONE Fight Night 23 on @primevideo with a first-round KO!
Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE Fight Night 23!#ONEFightNight23 | 🔴 Live Now
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🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on… pic.twitter.com/8cYdf8o7R8— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) July 6, 2024
ONE Fight Night 25 is headlined by the rematch between ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Alexis Nicolas and former divisional king Regian Eersel. Nicolas shocked the world when he dethroned the Surinamese superstar by unanimous decision this past April, snapping his incredible 22-fight win streak and wrestling away the lightweight kickboxing crown.
