UFC light heavyweight veteran Johnny Walker, who once caught the attention of Jon Jones after jumping out to a torrid 3-0 start with three finishes, was clobbered by former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Saudi Arabia last weekend in Riyadh, the Brazilian’s second straight knockout loss in 2024.
Walker has now been knocked out four times under the UFC banner.
“I’m good. Just a little scratch on my lips,” Walker said on Instagram. “I just arrived at home with my little champ. It wasn’t a really good night for me. I don’t know what happened. I’m going to have to figure out and watch the fights again and see what I did. I don’t think I feel my head in the right place for the fight. I was feeling amazing, a really good camp.”
There’s growing concern in the combat sports community about Walker’s longterm health, which could be in jeopardy after so many brutal knockouts. That said, the Brazilian has a long way to go if he wants to catch up to Andrei Arlovski, who’s been knocked out 12 times in his pro career (and still continues to compete at age 45).
“I felt really strong, everything was good,” Walker continued. “The (weight) cut was a little bit hard, but as always. I just didn’t find myself there in the fight. But the most important thing is here, my little baby. I came back safe for him. I’m going to look after him and come back stronger. I’ll take time with my family, enjoy my wife, my baby. I’ll come back stronger.”
Walker turned 32 back in March.