Bibiano Fernandes: If John Lineker Doesn’t Knock Me Out, I’ll Submit Him

After many months of bad blood on social media, Brazilians John Lineker and Bibiano Fernandes will fight for One Championship bantamweight belt on Friday in Singapore.

“That fight was supposed to happen four months ago. Once it was postponed, I ended up having one of the longest camps of my career,” Fernandes told Sherdog.com.

During his training, Fernandes, who has been competing under the One banner since 2012, split time between Brazil and Canada.

"I started adjusting my jiu-jitsu in my homeland of Manaus, and then I went to Rio de Janeiro to improve my striking with Gustavo Ximu and got my fifth-degree black belt under Master Oswaldo Alves,” Fernandes said. “After that, I came back home to Canada to finish my camp with a lot of wrestling and muay Thai. The fact is that I trained a lot for this fight and Lineker will face the best version of myself to date.”

In regards to his opponent’s strategy, Fernandes predicts a more measured Lineker on fight night.

“Everything will depend on how he will fight. If he comes like he always does, looking for the knockout from the opening bell, it will favor me,” the reigning champion said. “But I think he will be more tactical this time, since he is aware that he has never faced someone at my level on the ground.”

Fernandes expects to title fight to end inside the distance.

“I'm ready to face him wherever he wants to fight me. I just don’t think this fight will go five rounds,” Fernandes said. “He will come forward in the first round. If he doesn't knock me out, I´ll submit him.”

The 41-year-old champion added that if he defeats Lineker, he has no plans to leave the Singapore-based promotion.

"I was the first Brazilian to come here and I opened the doors of One to many other countrymen. I will finish my career here,” Fernandes said. “I don’t have a goal of going to PFL, UFC or any other promotion. But of course, if One asks me to face to face the champion in another division, I would love this challenge.”

The only possibility of fighting outside of One Championship that excites Fernandes is a challenge under boxing rules.

“I would love to participate in one of those challenges like when the Paul brothers fought other MMA fighters,” Fernandes said. “Our four-time world boxing champion Acelino ‘Popo’ Freitas challenged Jose Aldo right after he defeated [YouTube personality] Whindersson Nunes last week. Hey Popo, I´m here. If you want, right after I fight John Lineker, I would love to face you in boxing rules. The guys I trained with here in Canada did 12 rounds with Floyd Mayweather. I have no doubt I can do great in a boxing challenge too.”