The most violent man in mixed martial arts (MMA) returns to the airwaves tonight (Weds., April 21, 2021) when former UFC Bantamweight contender, John Lineker, takes on Troy Worthen in the latest ONE Championship card on TNT.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of tonight’s main card, which kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on TNT. We’ll also provide quick results of the undercard, which begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on B/R Live.
Fellow Octagon veteran Yoshihiro Akiyama and Rizin GP finalist Amir Aliakbari were slated to appear as well in separate bouts, but their absence leaves ONE with another two-fight main card, which opens with a clash between long-time Flyweight veterans Reece McLaren and Yuya Wakamatsu.
The undercard notably sees striking legends Nieky Holzken and John Wayne Parr duke it out at a Catchweight, plus a Lightweight bout between Marat Gafurov and Ok Rae Yoon that will send the winner into a fight with Eddie Alvarez.
John Lineker vs. Troy Worthen — Lineker def. Worthen by KO (punches) at 4:35 of Round One (WATCH HERE!)
Reece McLaren vs. Yuya Wakamatsu — Wakamatsu def. McLaren by unanimous decision
Nieky Holzken vs. John Wayne Parr (Muay Thai) — Holzken def. Parr by TKO (head kick) at 1:23 of Round Two
Marat Gafurov vs. Ok Rae Yoon — Ok def. Gafurov by unanimous decision
Ryuto Sawada vs. Miao Li Tao — Miao def. Sawada by unanimous decision
Bantamweight: John Lineker vs. Troy Worthy
Round one: Lineker immediately goes on the advance, ripping body shots. Low kick connects. Another flurry on the fence. Low blow pauses the action. Worthen fires jabs, eats body shots. One minute in. Worthen tries a head kick, eats another right downstairs. Lineker tries to lead with an uppercut, then swats him with a left hook. Counter left knocks Lineker off-balance. Low kick from Worthen, eats some nasty hooks on the fence before the Brazilian ties up. Two minutes in. More body shots after they separate. Left hook upstairs. Worthen’s getting the occasional shot in but Lineker’s walking through it all. Two minutes to go.
Overhand right to left hook. Worthen shoots, denied. Overhand right once again. Low kick knocks Worthen over as he’s off-balance. Another Lineker body shot. One minute to go. They trade in the center, Lineker overhand. Worthen connects with a left cross and gets promptly demolished with a straight right in return. One more on the ground turns out the lights.
Final result: Lineker def. Worthen by KO (punches)
Flyweight: Reece McLaren vs. Yuya Wakamatsu
Round one: Wakamatsu comes out aggressive, denies a reactive takedown and answers with an elbow. Another shot denied and Wakamatsu trips him to the mat in return. On top in guard. Half guard two minutes in. Wakamatsu avoids a leglock and lets him up, then cracks him with a pair of right hands. Overhand right into a takedown attempt from Wakamatsu. Pressing him against the fence with two minutes to go.
McLaren reverses and looks for his own takedown, then the official stream dies on me. When it comes back, McLaren is in mount dropping bombs, then takes the back in the waning seconds. McLaren in the lead.
Round two: McLaren tries an early head kick. Wakamatsu low kick, McLaren body kick. McLaren avoids an uppercut as he shoots, eats elbows as he runs the pips and takes the back. HE transitions to an armbar, loses it and eats right hands from a standing Wakamatsu a minute in. Back to the feet and they trade knees. Elbow from Wakamatsu on the break, then a 3-2. McLaren ducks a left hook for a shot. Knee from Wakamatsu as he defends two minutes in. McLaren hits a slick back transition. Wakamatsu sweeps into guard, nearly gets swept in return, then manages to stand and separate with two minutes to go.
Wakamatsu stuffs another takedown. Lead right from Wakamatsu. McLaren shoots under a jab, denied, tries the same with a left hook, denied again. They separate with a minute to go. McLaren shoots again, denied. Right hand whiffs and they tie up. Wakamatsu’s about evened it up at this point but it’s close.
Round three: Early right hands land for Wakamatsu, who has to fight off a well-timed shot. Browne elbow. One minute in. He manages to defend and separate. Low kick connects. They trade leg kicks two minutes in. McLaren looks for a single-leg, eats some hard elbows before Wakamatsu limp-legs out. Another strong sprawl. Two minutes to go.
Browne elbows from Wakamatsu. One minute to go. They separate. Glancing head kick from Wakamatsu, another good sprawl and some knees with it. Punches as well before they return to range. Wakamatsu hurls heat until the bell. Should be a UD for Wakamatsu.
Final result: Wakamatsu def. McLaren by unanimous decision
For more on ONE’s upcoming schedule, including the latest on its TNT broadcasts, click here.