John Lineker issues statement following removal from UFC on ESPN 1+

UFC bantamweight standout John Lineker has issued a statement after an injury forced him out of his slated bout with Cory Sandhagen at next weekend’s UFC on ESPN+1 event.

The injury, which still remains unknown to media at this time, forced “Hands of Stone” to pull out on just nine days notice. Thankfully for Cody Sandhagen, undefeated promotional newcomer Mario Bautista has agreed to fill in for Lineker at Saturday’s event in Brooklyn.

The Brazilian knockout artist took to Twitter where he apologized to his fans for pulling out of the fight.

I am sorry I wont be fighting on the upcoming jan 19th card.
I thank ATT, family, friends and fans of “ Hands of Stone” s work. I hope to be rescheduled soon so that I can put on another show for the all my fans. pic.twitter.com/KA8BsXykz7

— John Lineker (@johnlineker) January 12, 2019

“I am sorry I wont be fighting on the upcoming Jan 19th card. I thank ATT, family, friends and fans of “ Hands of Stone” s work. I hope to be rescheduled soon so that I can put on another show for the all my fans.”

John Lineker was last seen in action at May’s UFC 224 event, where he scored a third-round knockout victory over Brian Kelleher.

The perennial bantamweight contender, Lineker, has gone 8-1 over his past nine octagon appearances, with his lone loss in that time coming to reigning 135-pound kingpin TJ Dillashaw.

UFC on ESPN+1 takes place next Saturday live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The event is headlined by a flyweight title fight featuring newly crowned division champion Henry Cejudo taking on the aforementioned bantamweight king TJ Dillashaw.

Who would you like to see John “Hands of Stone” Lineker fight when he is healthy and ready to return to the octagon? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!