Johnny Walker burst onto the UFC scene in 2019 amid high expectations, winning his first three bouts in thrilling fashion—each via knockout and earning a Performance of the Night bonus. However, his momentum faltered afterward, with mixed results and even an injury caused by performing the worm dance.
Currently, Walker holds a 1-3-1 record in his last five fights and will compete in the early prelims of UFC 332 on Saturday, October 3rd, against heavyweight Mick Parkin, who sports a 10-1 record. Walker believes moving up from light heavyweight to heavyweight will positively impact his career, especially since the demanding weight cuts severely affected his life and training.
“It’s strange because I usually struggle a lot,” Walker shared with MMA Fighting’s Jose Youngs. “Cutting weight for light heavyweight isn’t technically hard, but it’s a huge amount of work. Now, life feels normal.”
He went on to describe the difficulties during the last three weeks before a light heavyweight fight, saying, “I couldn’t even train properly. During sparring, I’d get dizzy and everything would go dark. We had to stop, but it wasn’t related to my heart or breathing—it was like my body was shutting down. Then, after a break, I’d get back in, which felt insane.”
“At heavyweight, I can train hard right up until the final week. This week, I’ve been able to train with partners without breaks. I feel ready, focusing on strategy and technique with no pain or depletion. My glycogen levels are full, and I’m excited to show what I can do.”
Originally scheduled to make his heavyweight debut on August 1st in Belgrade, an injury to his opponent has postponed Walker’s first fight in the new weight class by two months. Fans will finally get to see how Walker fares as a heavyweight when he takes on Mick Parkin this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Fan Take: Johnny Walker’s move to heavyweight is a pivotal moment for both his career and the division. If he can harness his power without the strain of weight cutting, it could rejuvenate his fighting style and bring fresh excitement to the heavyweight ranks, which have been craving new contenders.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
