John Lineker KOs Troy Worthen in the main event of ONE on TNT III. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—John Lineker scored a second straight stoppage in ONE Championship after putting Troy Worthen to sleep in the main event of ONE on TNT III, a previously-recorded event at Singapore Indoor Stadium that was aired Thursday.
Lineker, who is just in just his third fight in the promotion, stopped former bantamweight champion Kevin Belingon and now knocked out Sulaiman 4:35 into the first round of their bout.
Worthen (7-2) was a late replacement to the fight after Team Lakay’s Stephen Loman, who was supposed to make his ONE debut, was replaced after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Lineker (34-9), nevertheless, found Worthen’s weaknesses and connected with a stiff right straight sending the American to the mat before finishing the match with another vicious punch from top position.
John Lineker 🇧🇷 remains your top bantamweight contender with a THUNDEROUS KO of Troy Worthen! @johnlineker @tntdrama @BleacherReport @BR_MMA @brlive #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT3 pic.twitter.com/DDLzTD4oND
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 22, 2021
After his victory, Lineker called out bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes for a title fight.
“I came here to be the champ,” said Lineker, the no.1 bantamweight contender. “I want Bibiano. I know that I’m better than him.”
This was Lineker’s third straight victory and his fifth in six fights across ONE and UFC.
Yuya Wakamatsu scored a unanimous decision win over Reece McLaren in the battle of top flyweights in the co-main event of the card.
Has Yuya Wakamatsu earned a shot at Adriano Moraes? 🏆 @Yuya0209C4 @adrianomkmoraes #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT3 pic.twitter.com/AQI2fns9Uq
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 22, 2021
Wakamatsu, the no.4 ranked fighter in the division, was able to push his offense against the no.5 McLaren while also suppressing the Filipino-Australian’s submission attempts.
South Korea’s Ok Rae Yoon scored a huge upset win in his promotional debut beating former lightweight champion Marat Gafurov in their bout.
Ok’s victory over the no.5 lightweight contender earned him the shot to take on Eddie Alvarez next week for ONE on TNT IV.
The opening MMA bout of the card saw Miao Li Tao avenge his 2020 loss to Ryuto Sawada via unanimous decision in the strawweight division.
Nieky Holzken put on a massive striking display to score a technical knockout win over legend John Wayne Parr in the second round of their ONE Super Series may thai bout.