MMA Superstar John Lineker Is Building For The Future With His New Construction Company In Brazil

Every fighter knows that a professional career in martial arts won’t last forever, and John “Hands of Stone” Lineker is preparing for when he eventually rides off into the sunset.

The Brazilian – who will make his Muay Thai debut against Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow at ONE 168: Denver – has recently opened a construction company that he plans to nurture for when his competitive days are over. 

Although he’s all-in for his U.S. primetime battle at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Friday, September 6, Lineker has already kick-started the new venture, which is named ‘Mãos de Pedra’ (‘Hands of Stone’) in his honor. 

Lineker worked as a laborer for a bricklayer in his younger days before his MMA career kicked off so he’s not green to that world, but with the help of a business partner, he’s now able to juggle the two. 

He told onefc.com: 

“I opened the construction company this year. It’s something very recent. I opened it with the intention of having extra income, an income outside of fighting. 

“I have a partner. He was the one who suggested the name ‘Mãos de Pedra.’ He is a long-time friend and already has knowledge in this area. So we talked and decided to create the company. 

“We are just starting out, it is still a small company. We currently have 20 employees, but we still have a lot of room to grow. We are very motivated and excited about the company.” 

Lineker sees construction as a constant and never-ending endeavor, unlike fighting, which is finite and has a shelf-life.  

“Hands of Stone’s” business is already on the rise with work underway in his native Paranaguá, and he knows they are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of what is possible. 

That’s why he’s confident it was the right move to make: 

“Sometimes we fight [multiple times] in a row, but in the middle, we can get injured and then everything becomes more complicated.  

“So, I decided to open this construction company as a form of investment because it is a market that is growing, has a lot of demand, and that does not stop.” 

Lineker Eyes Comfortable Future With New Venture 

At 34 years old, John Lineker isn’t done yet, but he does have the end in sight.  

Fighting takes a huge toll mentally, physically, and in terms of time with his growing family. ‘Mãos de Pedra’ is the offramp for him to claim all of those back when he finally hangs up his gloves for good. 

He explained: 

“I’m getting into this business world because I plan to retire soon. If everything goes well with the company, I plan to retire even earlier than I had planned.  

“But I plan to fight for another five or six years. That’s my goal. I want to be able to do as many fights as possible during this period so that I can then retire, rest, and enjoy my family more.  

“If the company takes off, I’ll stop even sooner!” 

The former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion is just as ambitious in business as he is in the Circle, and he already has a thirst for expansion into new areas. 

Still, he knows not to bite off more than he can chew for now, with a fresh company and an elite-level fighting career to find time for: 

“At the moment I’m only thinking about the construction company, but I have other ideas for the future. 

“Right now I want to focus on the construction company until it stabilizes. Then I plan to undertake and invest in other areas.”