Lineker lobbies for fight against Magomedsharipov
With Yair Rodriguez out of his UFC 228 bout vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov, bantamweight John Lineker is willing to step up.
Zabit Magomedsharipov (15-1) is in need of a new opponent at UFC 228 after Yair Rodriguez withdrew from injury. The rising featherweight star is on an 11-fight winning streak, with three of those wins coming inside the Octagon.
As we wait and see if Magomedsharipov will remain on the card, there’s one very notable name who’s volunteered to fight him. Just sit back for a few seconds and visualize a staredown between the 6’1” Zabit and a 5’3” John Lineker.
“ Hey Zabit! Since Yair is out, and no one wants me in my div. Ill fight you man!!!@zabit_mma @danawhite @seanshelby @ufc
— John Lineker (@johnlineker) August 23, 2018
Zabit has since responded, and it looks like interest is mutual, although Sean Shelby doesn’t seem to be too enthused.
I’m in! Let’s do it! Call mr. Sean Shelby but we called him. He said you’re too small. But I will fight you. Much respect for stepping up. https://t.co/n46k8gMN9r
— ZabitMagomedsharipov (@zabit_mma) August 23, 2018
Lineker (31-8) obviously is a former flyweight and current bantamweight who’s not booked to fight at the moment. The entertaining, fan-friendly Brazilian is coming off a spectacular KO of Brian Kelleher at UFC 224 in May, and his only loss in his last nine fights came against reigning bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw. His failure to make weight at both 125 and 135 sure makes wanting to compete at featherweight that much more understandable.
If by any chance the UFC makes this matchup a reality, it’d surely be the biggest-ever height differential in a non-heavyweight UFC fight. I wholeheartedly support such chaotic matchmaking.
UFC 228 is September 8th in Dallas, Texas, so time is of the essence to find a replacement opponent for Magomedsharipov, or else he’ll have to be rescheduled.