Johnny Walker, 34, made his UFC heavyweight debut last month with a first-round knockout of Mick Parkin at UFC 332, signaling a fresh start after a turbulent light heavyweight career.
Walker's early UFC run featured highlight-reel knockouts in 2018 and 2019, but a loss to Corey Anderson at Madison Square Garden in 2019 derailed his momentum. He struggled with consistency and weight cuts, notably before his split-decision loss to Dominick Reyes.
Weight Cut Struggles
Walker said the cut to 205 pounds left him dizzy and weak, unable to train hard in the final month. Moving to heavyweight allows him to train year-round with proper nutrition and injury prevention.
He now trains at Porrada Training Center in Las Vegas under six-time Muay Thai world champion Ray Sefo, alongside top heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov. Walker calls it his "dream team."
After knocking out Parkin, Walker called out Marcin Tybura but accepted a main-event bout against Waldo Cortes Acosta on nine days' notice. He insists his coaches supported the decision and that he is more disciplined now.
Cortes Acosta presents a tougher test than Parkin, but Walker remains confident, describing himself as a "carnivore" who won't let the opportunity slip.
