Stephen Loman, a rising star in the bantamweight division of ONE Championship, has come to the defense of his former opponent, John Lineker, praising the Brazilian’s often-overlooked defensive abilities.
Loman, who fought Lineker to a thrilling decision victory in their ONE Championship debut in 2021, has seen firsthand how Lineker’s defensive skills have allowed him to compete at the highest level of MMA.
“John Lineker is a phenomenal fighter, and I think his defensive skills are one of the most underrated aspects of his game,“ Loman said in a recent interview. “He’s so good at slipping punches and avoiding takedowns. He’s always moving, and he’s always making adjustments.“
Loman’s statement is a stark contrast to the popular perception of Lineker as a one-dimensional knockout artist. While it is true that Lineker has finished many of his opponents with strikes, his defensive skills have been just as important to his success.
Lineker’s defensive skills were on full display in his fight against Loman. Despite being the smaller fighter, Lineker was able to land punches on Loman and avoid being taken down. In the end, it was Loman’s superior grappling that proved to be the difference in the fight.
However, Loman believes that Lineker’s defensive skills are often overlooked because of his offensive firepower.
“People see John Lineker as a knockout artist, and they don’t give him enough credit for his defensive abilities,” Loman said. “He’s a well-rounded fighter, and he’s capable of beating anyone in the world.“
Also, Loman’s praise for Lineker is a testament to the Brazilian’s underrated skills. Lineker is a dangerous fighter, and his defensive abilities make him even more difficult to beat.
