Former UFC contender and Ex-One Championship Bantamweight kingpin, John Lineker, returned to action in the kickboxing ring opposite debuting kickboxing champion Ben Woolliss just moments ago (Fri., March 13, 2026) from inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand for One Fight Night 41.
Despite being a former MMA champion in their organization, Lineker hasn’t competed in One in MMA since January 2024. Instead, he’s been taking kickboxing or Muay Thai bouts, evenly splitting four such bouts and scoring
a pair of major knockouts in the process. On the flip side, Woolliss was making his first appearance in the One ring, but he’s a kickboxing veteran in the UK and has also fought for MMA promotions like PFL and Dirty Boxing.
It’s safe to say he made a serious splash in his debut! Lineker opened the fight with his trademark combinations of swinging hooks to the head and body, but Woolliss kept his distance well and punished the shorter Brazilian with absolutely chopping calf kicks. Though Lineker is known for his durability and toughness, he crumbled to the floor after just a few of those connections in clear agony.
Check out the highlight clip below:
As a result of the defeat, Lineker has now lost three straight striking matches. Unfortunately, One Championship has largely moved away from hosting MMA fights, so it’s unclear when Lineker will have the opportunity to utilize his full skill set again. Somehow, the veteran slugger is still just 35 years old — maybe there’s still time in his career for a post-One Championship resurgence?
As for Woolliss, he becomes the first man to stop Lineker in kickboxing or Muay Thai. This is the most high-profile win of his career, and it should open up new doors for the knockout artist.
