PORTLAND, Ore. – John Lineker doesn’t believe missing weight for the fifth time in his UFC career should hold him back in the bantamweight title picture after he bested John Dodson by split decision in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 96 headliner at Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
Lineker (29-7 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has recorded six consecutive UFC victories, but the repeated narrative of missing weight has cost him severely in his career. He would previously have likely received a title shot at flyweight but frequently failing to make weight forced him up to the 135-pound division. After three fights with no issues, “Hands of Stone” came in one-half of a pound over the contracted weight against Dodson (18-8 MMA, 7-3 UFC) but still picked up the win.
The Brazilian claims he made weight well ahead of the necessary timeframe but said an issue with his scale caused the error. After his victory, Lineker once again promised it wouldn’t happen again and said he’s deserving of the next fight with bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (22-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC).
“I had already made weight, and I was really trying not to drop any lower (but) I was using the scale in my room, and when I got there to the official scale they were different, and I didn’t have any time to make it,” Lineker said post-fight through an interpreter. “I don’t think it should (hold me back from a title shot). It was a small mistake I committed. It was a scale problem. I won’t not make weight. I had already made weight, so I don’t think it should be a problem.”
What could also hold Lineker back from getting a fight with Cruz is the fact that an argument exists that he shouldn’t have been awarded the decision over Dodson at all. A number of fighters and media outlets favored “The Magician” to win, but Lineker said the result was the correct one.
“You score the shots that landed, and I believe I landed the harder shots on him and that’s why I believe I got the win,” Lineker said. “I was trying to bait him to come into the fight because I had a hard time catching him, so I had to run around after him for five rounds.
“I come to fight – I come to fight round after round,” he continued. “I come to bang. I come to give a show, and I think that’s what won me the fight.”‘
If Lineker had not missed weight, he would almost certainly have more buzz around him for a title shot. However, other bantamweight contenders such as T.J. Dillashaw (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), Cody Garbrandt (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Bryan Caraway (21-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) are in the thick of the discussion, as well.
Garbrandt took to social media and said if he were to fight Lineker that the Brazilian wouldn’t escape the first round. Caraway also said he wants the matchup as soon as possible. Lineker said he isn’t thinking about any of those names, though, because he wants Cruz right now.
“I think I’ve proved (why I deserve a title shot) fight after fight in this weight division,” Lineker said. “If I haven’t proved it, I don’t know what to say.”
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