Light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker has announced his intention to move up to the heavyweight division. Walker cited his training experience with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou as evidence he can compete at the higher weight class. According to Walker, even while on a diet with approximately a 20 kg weight difference, he was able to spar comfortably with Ngannou. He explained that he would feel much better at heavyweight because his current weight cuts negatively impact his training, causing dizziness and low energy due to carbohydrate restriction. Walker believes the move would allow him to train more effectively without the constraints of cutting weight.
Johnny Walker has announced his intention to leave the light heavyweight division and compete at heavyweight, citing the physical toll that cutting weight has taken on his training and performance.
Walker, 34, currently sits ranked 11th in the UFC light heavyweight division with a professional record of 22 wins and 10 losses. The Brazilian, who trains out of SBG Ireland, is a physically imposing presence even at 205 pounds, standing six-foot-six with an 82-inch reach. He lands 4.06 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect an aggressive and technically sound striker who may find even more freedom without the burden of a weight cut.
The key evidence Walker pointed to is his sparring experience with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Despite carrying roughly 20 kilograms less than Ngannou during diet periods, Walker said he was able to spar comfortably with the Cameroonian knockout artist. Ngannou, now 38, holds an 18-3 professional record and stands six-foot-four with an 83-inch reach, making him one of the most physically imposing heavyweights in combat sports history. Walker's claim that he could hold his own in those sessions is the foundation of his confidence heading into the heavier class.
Walker was candid about the reasons behind the move, explaining that carbohydrate restriction during weight cuts leaves him dizzy and low on energy, hampering his training quality in ways he believes are limiting his overall performance.
Why it matters
- Walker's elite size for light heavyweight — six-foot-six, 208 cm reach — translates naturally to the heavyweight division
- A healthier, fully fueled Walker could represent a meaningful upgrade in performance if weight-cut issues have been a persistent limitation
- The move opens questions about his light heavyweight ranking and where he would slot into a wide-open heavyweight landscape
