John Lineker scored one of the biggest wins of his professional MMA career this past Saturday Night at UFC Fight Night 96, when he defeated two time UFC Flyweight Title challenger and UFC Ultimate Fighter 14 champion John Dodson. Normally, that would land him a 135-pound title shot.
However, a situation occurred the day prior to his big victory, as Lineker missed weight for the main event fight by a half of a pound (the bantamweight weight limit is 136 pounds). This isn't exactly new territory for Lineker, who has missed weight a total of five times as both a flyweight and bantamweight in the UFC, currently the record for most failed weigh in attempts by any fighter ever in the promotion.
Lineker may be on the cusp of a bantamweight title shot against Dominick Cruz, but the fighter is hoping that his weight cutting issues will kee UFC officials from giving it to him, something he about in various post-fight interviews.
“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.”
There is no word yet on or who Cruz will be defending the bantamweight title against next, but Lineker may be on the short list of potential opponents.
