Stephen “The Sniper” Loman has long been known as the best Team Lakay athlete outside of ONE Championship, having taken his talents to the Middle East where he dominated his weight class for years.
After achieving a lot in his stint there, he knows that the only way for his career to move forward is by joining his teammates in The Home Of Martial Arts and scoring a breakthrough victory.
“The decision to join ONE Championship was one I thought about for a long time. It’s the largest martial arts organization in the world. I’m a fighter, and I’m seeking the toughest challenges. I want to test myself against the best, and ONE Championship has the best fighters,” Loman said.
“All my teammates told me great things about ONE Championship. They say competing in this organization is good. The promotion takes very good care of its fighters, and is very generous, especially for good performances.”
He will certainly be tested the moment he steps into the ONE Circle.
The 29-year-old takes on the top contender of the bantamweight division in John “Hands Of Stone” Lineker at “ONE on TNT IV,” which airs on April 28 on U.S. primetime television.
“The Sniper” admitted that he was surprised to be matched up with Lineker this early, but it’s a challenge he won’t back down from.
“ONE Championship put me up against John Lineker immediately, and I can actually say, I was a bit surprised, but at the same time, I’m very happy,” Loman said.
“It’s a chance for me to fight the best, which is what I wanted. He is one of the best fighters in the division and a very tough opponent for me."
While confident about his chances heading into this contest, Loman understands that this won’t be an easy bout for him.
He’s seen the power of Lineker, who beat his teammate and former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, and he has no plans of becoming the next Filipino to fall to the Brazilian.
“I’m taking on a very dangerous man who is maybe the top-ranked fighter in the division now, next to the bantamweight king, Bibiano [Fernandes],” Loman said.
“It’s not an easy fight, by any means. Lineker has a lot of power.”
In the meantime, catch the previously recorded ONE: FISTS OF FURY III on Friday, March 19, on One Sports and One Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT). It will also air simultaneously on the ONE Super App.
Also, TV5 will air an encore presentation of the event at 12 a.m. PHT on Sunday, March 21.