John Lineker is renowned as one of the hardest-hitting fighters on the planet, but even the fiercest competitors need a clear mind to perform at their best.

“Hands of Stone” is set to return to action against Stephen Loman at ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham on Friday, September 29th, as he continues his quest to regain the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title.

John Lineker Reveals His Passion Outside The Cage

And though he’s deep in preparation for his meeting with the #2-ranked divisional contender, the Brazilian star took time to speak with ONE Championship about a passion he holds dear to his heart – one that helps him clear his mind. “I have liked horses since I was 8 years old. At that age, I started to fall in love. Not just with horses, but with all animals,” Lineker said. “I just connected with them. But the horse is a very sincere animal that brings me a lot of tranquility, peace, and joy.” While people would typically find companionship with more common pets like dogs and cats, horses are the animals for “Hand of Stone.”

Learning to ride at an early age allowed him to discover a new hobby and a whole new world. But it goes beyond riding for him. The 33-year-old shared that as much as he enjoys the activity, he also gets an incredible high from watching his horses running. “I was a very active child, and I really liked adventure. And I think that’s why I learned to ride so quickly. I always wanted to outdo myself, and I always liked to ride the bravest horse,” he recalled. “Today, I don’t ride so much. Sometimes I go riding, but my horses are racehorses.

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I like to see my horses running, but the jockeys ride them to train and compete. “When I see my horses running, it’s an adrenaline rush that I don’t know how to explain. When they run, I get more nervous than when I fight. It’s something inexplicable.” Looking after his horses may be quite a bit different from the intensity of mixed martial arts, but Lineker insists that it plays an integral role in his preparation for fights.

Riding gives the Brazilian peace of mind during fight camps 

The former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion shared that spending time with his horses helps him to center himself and find joy, and those positive vibes are essential for an athlete to stay in the right frame of mind.

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“When I’m in a training camp, I try to be with them more because that brings me great peace of mind. The pleasure of being there with my horses is rewarding, and it takes away all that fight tension. It helps me a lot. I love being with animals,” Lineker said. “Over time, my passion for animals only increased. It is a great joy for me.”