Johnny Walker has publicly disagreed with the notion that Dominick Reyes has a 'weak chin'. Walker stated that falling into a knockout doesn't mean someone has a weak chin, emphasizing that anyone can be knocked out with the right punch at the right moment. He argued that there is no such thing as an 'iron chin' in reality. The two fighters are scheduled to face each other this weekend at UFC 327. Walker's comments come as he prepares to test Reyes' durability himself.
Johnny Walker has pushed back on the narrative surrounding Dominick Reyes' durability ahead of their light heavyweight matchup at UFC 327 this weekend, arguing that labeling any fighter as having a weak chin is an oversimplification of how knockouts work.
Walker, 34, made clear that being finished by a strike does not reflect a fundamental flaw in a fighter's toughness. The Brazilian contender, who trains out of SBG Ireland, pointed out that the right punch landed at the right moment can stop anyone, and that the concept of an iron chin is essentially a myth. His comments carry particular weight given that he himself is preparing to test Reyes' jaw in the coming days. Walker enters the bout ranked 11th in the light heavyweight division with a record of 22-10. Standing six-foot-six with an extraordinary 82-inch reach, he lands 4.06 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate.
Reyes, nicknamed The Devastator, is ranked eighth at 185 centimeters — or six-foot-four — with a 77-inch reach and a record of 16-5. The 36-year-old American, who trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, is one of the division's more active strikers, averaging 5.39 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. He fights out of a southpaw stance and has been a fixture near the top of the 205-pound rankings for several years.
Why it matters
- A win for either fighter would carry significant weight in a crowded and competitive light heavyweight division.
- Walker's reach advantage of 208 centimeters over Reyes' 196 centimeters could be a defining factor in the striking exchanges.
- Both men carry genuine knockout power, making the chin debate Walker raised a live and relevant question for fight night.
- The result will likely shift the rankings picture at 205 pounds, with the winner pushing closer to the division's elite tier.
