The championship clash between Bibiano
Fernandes and John
Lineker has a new date.
Fernandes will defend his 145-pound belt against John Linker at One
Championship “Lights Out” on March 11.
MMAFighting.com was first to report the new booking. The event
takes place at Singapore Indoor Statdium in Kallang, Singapore.
Fernandes and Lineker were supposed to square off at One
Championship “Bad Blood” on Feb. 11, but the bout was
canceled when Linker tested positive for COVID-19. The two
fighters were originally slated to meet at a Once Championship on
Dec. 5, but the title fight was postponed once the card was
canceled due to restrictions related to pandemic concerns.
The 41-year-old Fernandes was set to make his first appearance
since 2019, when he submitted Kevin
Belingon in the second round at One Championship “Century Part
2.” “The Flash” has won 16 of his last 17 professional outings
dating back to 2011, with his lone defeat coming against Belingon
in a title bout in November 2018.
Lineker is 3-0 under the One banner, including back-to-back KO/TKO
finishes of Belingon and Troy
Worthen in his last two promotional appearances. The
31-year-old Brazilian known as “Hands of Stone” signed with the
organization following a 12-4 stint in the UFC.