Long-time UFC fighter John Lineker has been released by the UFC just weeks after having to pull out of a short-notice co-main event fight with Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 154 last month due to a cut received in training.
Prior to being called up for that fight Lineker had publicly criticized the UFC for not giving him bouts more often, indicating that he was struggling to provide for his family, while also questioning whether the promotion had some kind of issue with him.
The fact that the UFC had moved quickly to draft him in as a late notice replacement for the Fight Night card suggested that perhaps things had been smoothed over, but it seems that his subsequent withdrawal has not gone down well with the powers at be.
At the time of his release Lineker was ranked No.10 in the bantamweight division and had won eight of his past 10 fights.
In total Lineker holds an impressive 13-3 UFC record, including six wins by strikes and one by submission.
With that kind of record, ‘Hands Of Stone’ would seem like an obvious candidate to be kept on the roster for the foreseeable future, but it seems that the differences between the two parties have now got to the stage where the 29-year-old’s talents are going to be greatfully acquired by another promotion, with the likes of Bellator and ONE FC sure to be interested in an entertaining fighter of his calibre.
