Johnny Walker says it would be a dream come true to fight Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title.
Streaking UFC light heavyweight Johnny Walker is hoping Jon Jones retains his title against Thiago Santos, because it would be a dream to one day challenge the pound-for-pound great for the belt.
Walker, 27, is on a nine-fight win streak and has finished his last three UFC bouts in the first round. His knockout win over Justin Ledet at UFC Fight Night 144 came at just 15 seconds of the opening round, finishing the Texan in style with a spinning back fist and follow-up punches.
As he continues to build notoriety and climb the rankings, Walker feels it’s inevitable that he will eventually square off against ‘Bones’ for the light heavyweight title.
He’s spent that much time playing against Jones’ character on the UFC Undisputed video game that he feels it’s only a matter of time until his dream matchup becomes a reality.
“Only Jon Jones [is who I have an eye on],” Walker told The Body Lock’s John Hyon Ko in a recent interview. “I grew up watching this guy. I played with him in the UFC game and it [would] make me very happy to fight against him.”
“I would beat him. [But] I want to enjoy the fight. I hope I don’t finish the fight very quickly because I want to enjoy the fight, enjoy the moment. Because this is my dream coming true.”
Walker knows he has to earn at least a couple more wins before he challenges Jones, but the Brazilian sees former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson as a potential fast track to a title shot.
“I have no idea [who wins that fight] because Gustafsson is not the same fighter as before,” Walker said of Gustafsson’s upcoming fight against Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night 152. “I don’t know, last fight against Jon Jones, maybe he didn’t feel good, something happened, but you never know.”
“Smith? Smith is good but he’s not good enough. He doesn’t finish fights, I don’t know if he has the power to finish fights. I hope Gustafsson wins, maybe a fight against him after this.”
UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos, which Walker — and the rest of the world — will be keeping a close eye on, takes place later this year, July 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.