Johnny Walker has announced his intention to transition to the heavyweight division. He cited his sparring experience with Francis Ngannou, noting that despite being on a diet and having a 20 kg weight disadvantage, he was able to work comfortably with the former champion. Walker explained that cutting weight severely impacts his training quality, causing dizziness and low energy due to insufficient carbohydrates. He believes he would perform much better at heavyweight where he can train without the constraints of weight cutting. The move would represent a significant shift in his UFC career as he looks to compete in a division where he can maintain optimal energy levels.
Johnny Walker has publicly announced his intention to leave the light heavyweight division and compete at heavyweight, a move the Brazilian contender says would allow him to train and perform at his best.
Walker, who trains out of SBG Ireland, carries a 22-10 record and currently sits ranked eleventh in the light heavyweight division. At six-foot-six with an 82-inch reach, the 34-year-old is already one of the most physically imposing fighters in that weight class, landing 4.06 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. He has cited the weight cut as a persistent drain on his preparation, explaining that reducing carbohydrates leaves him dizzy and low on energy heading into training sessions.
To support his case, Walker pointed to sparring rounds with former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Despite being on a diet and carrying roughly 20 kilograms less than Ngannou at the time, Walker said he was able to work comfortably with the Cameroonian. Ngannou holds an 18-3 record and, at six-foot-four with an 83-inch reach, represents one of the most physically demanding sparring partners available anywhere in the sport.
Why it matters
- Walker would enter heavyweight as an immediate size threat, standing taller than most fighters in that division
- His striking volume and accuracy at light heavyweight could translate well if he maintains those numbers free of weight-cut fatigue
- A move upward would open a largely fresh set of matchups for a fighter who has gone 5-6 in his last eleven bouts at 205 pounds
- The light heavyweight rankings at number eleven would lose one of the division's longer, more active strikers
