10 Brazilians to Watch in 2011

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John Lineker (12-5)

Lineker is a native of Paranagua, the state of Parana’s port city, some 75 miles from Curitiba. However, his style is reminiscent of one of Curitiba’s fighting heroes, Mauricio Rua. With a hyper-aggressive muay Thai attack, Lineker is making massive strides on the ground with Emporium Jiu-Jitsu, and stole the show at Shooto Brazil 18 in September, when he submitted Alvino Jose Torres with a rear-naked choke. In February, he’ll take on Alessandro “Lenhador” Cordeiro, Rafael “Morcego” Silva and Diego Avila in Nitrix Fight’s four-man bantamweight grand prix, an opportunity that could put him on the national stage in Brazil.