Johnny Walker discussed his intention to transition to the heavyweight division. He referenced training and sparring with Francis Ngannou, stating that even while on a diet with about a 20kg weight difference, he worked comfortably with the former champion. Walker explained that he would feel much better at heavyweight because dieting prevents him from training properly, causing dizziness and low energy due to insufficient carbohydrates. The light heavyweight contender believes the move would significantly improve his performance and training quality. No timeline for the potential move was specified in the post.
Johnny Walker has publicly revealed his intention to leave the light heavyweight division and compete at heavyweight, citing the physical toll of cutting weight as the driving force behind the potential move.
Walker, 34, currently sits ranked eleventh in the UFC light heavyweight division with a professional record of 22-10-0. The Brazilian trains out of SBG Ireland and brings an imposing physical frame to the cage — standing six-foot-six at 198 cm with an extraordinary 82-inch reach. He lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.06 per minute with a striking accuracy of 55 percent, making him one of the more dangerous strikers in the 205-pound class. Despite those tools, Walker says the weight-cutting process is undermining his preparation, leaving him dizzy and low on energy from carbohydrate restriction and preventing him from training at full capacity.
To illustrate his readiness for the heavier division, Walker pointed to sparring sessions with former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Walker noted that even while dieting — with roughly a 20-kilogram weight difference between the two — he was able to work comfortably with Ngannou. Ngannou, now 38, carries an 18-3-0 professional record and holds a pound-for-pound ranking of twelfth. The Cameroonian stands six-foot-four at 193 cm with an 83-inch reach, making the size comparison between the two a meaningful data point in Walker's argument.
Why it matters
- Walker's six-foot-six frame and 82-inch reach would be formidable assets in the heavyweight division, where size advantages are less common.
- A move to heavyweight would remove him from the competitive light heavyweight top-15 picture entirely, reshaping the divisional rankings at 205 pounds.
- Walker's striking volume — 4.06 significant strikes per minute — could translate into serious knockout power if he competes at his natural weight.
- No official timeline has been announced, leaving the transition unconfirmed from a promotional standpoint.
