UFC light heavyweight fan favorite Johnny Walker’s days at 205 could be numbered ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC 327.
At a time of significant change in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, fan favorite Johnny Walker has the chance to get back into the title mix quickly with an impressive performance this weekend. Walker’s latest path to a potential title shot continues against former title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 this weekend, after a stunning TKO win over Zhang Mingyang at UFC Shanghai last year.
Walker’s quick ascent earlier in his UFC tenure, fueled by early wins over Khalil Rountree Jr. and Misha Cirkunov, is evidence of his massive potential in the Octagon. A win over Reyes this weekend could catapult Walker into a title eliminator bout, at worst.
But Johnny’s half-brother Valter has found success at heavyweight during his young UFC tenure, and Johnny is seriously considering making a similar change after a series of rough weight cuts. Ahead of UFC 327, Walker sparred on several occasions with former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou, which built his confidence in heavyweight pursuits.
Johnny Walker confident a heavyweight move is looming after sparring Francis Ngannou
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Walker was asked about moving to heavyweight, regardless of how his fight plays out at UFC 327.
“I’m thinking about it because the diet has been rough. If there’s an opportunity, if a heavyweight fight gets cancelled or anything, I’m in,” Walker said.
“I’ve been training with Francis Ngannou, sparring with him. Even while dieting, with about a 44-pound difference since I’m much lighter now, I’ve been able to train with him just fine. Even in wrestling, strength, and ground-and-pound. If I can do that while dieting, imagine without it?
“It’d be way better [at heavyweight] because on a diet I can’t train properly,” Walker continued. “I get dizzy, low on energy because of the lack of carbs. I can’t wait to move up and be able to train at 100 percent, even close to the fight. When a heavyweight is fighting on the same card as me and I see them training during fight week, doing all kinds of stuff, and I’m there depleted, no energy, it’s tough. But… I’m going to move up. It won’t take long.”
First things first for Walker, as he plans to make a statement on a card headlined by a vacant light heavyweight title fight between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg. A victory this weekend could extend Walker’s light heavyweight tenure.
What is your prediction for Johnny Walker vs. Dominick Reyes at UFC 327? Let us know in the comments!