John Lineker har nu efter 8 matcher som flugviktare i UFC blivit tvungen att gå upp en viktklass efter att han trots hård bantning missade vikten inför UFC 183. Han kommer nu att återvända som bantamviktare, men har en lång väg tillbaka till sin ursprungliga vikt eftersom han nu väger ca 14 kg för mycket.
I will have to cut 30 pounds to fight at 135. I used to cut 40 to fight at flyweight. Bantamweight is my original weight class. I only cut down to 125 for the opportunity to fight in the UFC. The division was new in the UFC and they were looking for fighters. I had a good record, so they signed me.
Lineker ville under lång tid gå tillbaka till bantamvikt, men fick inte det för sin manager Alex Davis som insisterade Lineker skulle bli mästare inom flugvikt om han fortsatte.
I was upset because I lost a title shot, but it was really hard for me to make weight at 125 pounds. I didn’t have much time between fights and my body couldn’t handle it, so I missed weight one more time. It will be easier at 135 pounds.
I thought about moving up to 135 a while ago, but my manager believed I could win the flyweight title, so we insisted. I believe I would be able to make 125, but only if I had five or six months between fights. I was cutting too much weight, and now they are forcing me to fight at 135. The boss told me to go to bantamweight, but I already wanted to move up.
Det finns ännu inget bestämt datum för när Lineker kommer att återvända i sin gamla viktklass. Dock ser det ut att kunna bli slutet av juni eller början av juli.
I hurt my foot in my last fight, so I’m slowly returning to training now. The UFC called my manager and they are talking. I don’t have any opponent in mind right now. Like I did at 125 pounds, I will fight and wait for opportunities. I will beat one by one until I get where I want. I will think about me and do my job.
