Light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker discussed his intention to transition to the heavyweight division. Walker cited his training experience with Francis Ngannou, noting that even while on a diet with a 20-kilogram weight difference, he was able to work comfortably with the former champion. He explained that he would feel much better at heavyweight because his current weight cuts negatively impact his training. Walker stated that dieting causes dizziness and low energy due to insufficient carbohydrate intake. The move could allow him to compete without the physical toll of cutting weight.
Johnny Walker has publicly revealed his intention to move up from light heavyweight to the heavyweight division, citing the physical strain of weight cuts as the primary motivation for the potential switch.
Walker, 34, currently sits ranked 11th in the light heavyweight division with a professional record of 22-10-0. The Brazilian fighter, who trains out of SBG Ireland, is a physically imposing presence at light heavyweight — standing six-foot-six at 198 cm with an extraordinary 82-inch reach. Despite those tools, Walker explained that dieting to make the 205-pound limit has taken a real toll, causing dizziness and low energy due to insufficient carbohydrate intake, problems he believes are hurting the quality of his training camp preparations.
A key factor in Walker's thinking is his experience sparring with former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Walker noted that even while dieting — with a 20-kilogram weight difference between the two men — he was still able to work comfortably alongside Ngannou, which gave him confidence that he could compete at the higher weight class. Ngannou, now 38 and carrying an 18-3-0 record, is listed at six-foot-four and 193 cm with an 83-inch reach, making Walker's comfort in those sessions a meaningful data point.
Why it matters
- Walker's size — 198 cm and a 208 cm reach — would translate well to heavyweight, where his physical attributes could become even greater advantages.
- Eliminating a difficult weight cut could unlock a more effective training cycle, potentially improving a striking output already sitting at 4.06 significant strikes landed per minute with 55 percent accuracy.
- A divisional move would remove Walker from the crowded light heavyweight rankings picture and reset his positioning in a heavyweight landscape still reshaping itself after Ngannou's departure from the UFC.
