John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade 2 Preview

As former ONE Bantamweight World Champion John Lineker and #1-ranked Fabricio Andrade prepare to rematch for the vacant divisional strap, it’s clear that the stacked division isn’t big enough for the both of them.

The Brazilian superstars will meet for the second time in the main event of ONE Fight Night 7 on Friday, 24th February, following their explosively controversial no-contest result last October.

The significant lack of love between the duo promises excitement, and their vastly different paths to this scintillating battle paint the perfect picture of a clash between the seasoned veteran and the new star.

Lineker holds a record of 35-9 across his storied career, which includes a World Title win over longtime titleholder Bibiano Fernandes last year. Andrade is 8-2, and he won his previous three fights before meeting Lineker by first-round knockout. Significantly, both men remain unbeaten inside the ONE Circle.

When it comes to fight style, the plot only thickens further. “Hands of Stone” has used his brawling behaviour to rocketed up the bantamweight ladder. “Wonder Boy,” on the other hand, has trasnistioned his Muay Thai skills masterfully inside the Circle to leave a trail of devastation in his wake.

As he emerged as an unquestionable contender in the division over the last two years, Andrade repeatedly made it clear where he believed he stood. The decorated striker took to social media on numerous occasions to call his shot at the World Championship, and he finally got his chance against Lineker on 22nd October at ONE on Prime Video 3.

The 25-year-old proved he could stand with the best of them that night, landing clean shots with hands and feet for two and half rounds. Andrade looked poised for a finish until an inadvertent strike hit Lineker’s groin and rendered him unable to continue.

As a result, the bout was ruled as a no-contest, and the divisional belt was left vacant after Lineker was stripped of it ahead of the main event tussle for failing to hit the weight limit.

How the final two rounds would have gone has been the topic of wild debate ever since. Many believe Andrade was moments away from taking the belt, while others, including “Hands of Stone” himself, insist the former king was still in the contest.

The pair have a chance to silence all talk at ONE Fight Night 7 later this month. And Bangkok, Thailand’s iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium will be the fitting venue for arguably the promotion’s hottest rivalry in recent time to come a boiling point.