When I analyzed the match-up between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, I emphasized at length about how much reach effects the style of fight. Fighters who have enjoyed a reach advantage for a significant portion of their career always seem to stumble when they are suddenly the shorter man. But in that same analysis, I pointed out that fighters who spent their entire career undersized for their division (Mark Hunt being a prime example) develop interesting tools and strategies to survive. And we saw that with John Lineker in his spectacular finish of Michael McDonald.
Lineker was a tiny fighter, even at flyweight. Standing at 5’3”, he was shorter than every one of his flyweight opponents in the UFC. But Lineker’s broad build combined with a long reach relative to his height gave him so many weight cutting issues that he was kicked into the bantamweight division where his disadvantages were even more pronounced. Sure his win over Francisco Rivera was nice, but it did nothing to suggest he could survive in this division.
Then he smoked McDonald worse than Urijah Faber did, and I’m a believer.
Lineker had some obvious advantages. He has staggering power that has translated very well into the bantamweight division, is a dedicated body puncher and is one of the few competent ring cutters in the UFC today. But that’s just being a good technical fighter.
Being able to take those gifts and weave them into the size asymmetry is what makes a good short fighter. The first knockdown illustrates this perfectly. At first glance, the first knockdown looks like Lineker loading up on his right and getting a good (if not lucky) hit.
But that doesn’t do it justice
See boxing and stand-up comedy share a rule: you’re not supposed to punch down.
When throwing a textbook punch, the chin is never completely unguarded; the shoulder covers the jawline while the arm obstructs the path of hooks. Punch downwards and these safeguards are removed completely. It’s why the uppercut, while exceptionally powerful, is a dangerous punch to attempt if you don’t think you can land it.
So Lineker crouched (shrinking his already diminutive frame) and shuffled forward. McDonald, as the longer fighter who had no intention of trading with Lineker, naturally threw a jab and tried to follow up. This was the correct answer except Lineker’s head was so low that his jab took a stupidly downward angle. If he were fighting anyone but Lineker, I’d argue it was an ill-disguised dick punch.
He compounded that by also attempting a right uppercut before his left side was properly guarded, but it wouldn’t have mattered.
Lineker was already throwing the right hand when McDonald began to jab, because it was a safe option for him and he very likely predicted the left hand. I know he did because Roy Nelson and Michael Chandler do the same thing on a regular basis. Nelson moves the guard with a takedown threat while Chandler applies the same distance pressure as Lineker but relies on hand speed than level changes.
Now, there’s one scenario in which shorter fighters always have the natural advantage: a brawl.
Longer limbs must travel a greater distance to reach their target, and therefore need a greater amount of energy to do so. That’s a negligible tradeoff for being able to pot shot opponents at a range they can’t reach you, but brawls emphasize volume and power. A longer fighter either tires themselves out trying to match strike output or never catch up and eat shots.
Short fighters also swing upwards, which moves the shoulders and arms further into the path of oncoming strikes while long fighters must throw downwards.
That’s where Lineker really puts it all together.
His ringcutting got McDonald to the fence and kept him there. Since McDonald couldn’t retreat, Lineker knew where his head would be every time he uncorked a power shot. His left hook was almost a straight arm, generating maximum power while his short reach let it keep maximum speed. He mixed in shots to the gut which forced McDonald to keep earnest on defense.
My gushing praise aside, he’s not without his faults. The shots that really gave him pause were straight down the pipe at range, and I was kind of astonished at how cleanly Lineker ate a snap kick to the body. Snap kicks are becoming the bane of shorter fighters, and in a five round fight I could see his gas tank suffering for it.
The best part is that Lineker is so tiny, he’ll never be the larger man in the cage. There will be no rude awakening for him on that front, he just has to keep doing what he’s doing.
The King of Small.
