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Johnny Walker earns unanimous decision in three round war with Anthony Smith – UFC Charlotte Highlights

Johnny Walker scored the biggest win of his career on Saturday at UFC Charlotte. Both fighters came out relatively cautious, well aware of the power and skill that each man possesses. Things escalated near the two-minute mark when Smith fired off a big left that connected but ate a right hand in return that clearly […]

Johnny Walker scored the biggest win of his career on Saturday at UFC Charlotte.

Both fighters came out relatively cautious, well aware of the power and skill that each man possesses. Things escalated near the two-minute mark when Smith fired off a big left that connected but ate a right hand in return that clearly rocked him. Walker showed restraint and continued to mix up his striking. With 90 seconds left, Smith got a little too aggressive and caught a right hand while moving in, but ‘Lionheart’ was able to change levels and secure a takedown to grind out the rest of the round.

Smith and Walker were much more conservative in the second round and they continued trading leg kicks throughout. Things got a little chippy between the two toward the end of the round when they began having a conversation in the middle of the Octagon. Fans hoping for a faster pace in the third round were left a little disappointed as neither man showed an interest in unloading their weapons.

In the end, Johnny Walker walked away with the victory, earning his third straight win inside the Octagon. Walker could find himself in the light heavyweight top five come Monday.

Official Results: Johnny Walker def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Check Out Highlights From Johnny Walker vs. Anthony Smith at UFC Charlotte Below:

Johnny Walker Introduction
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Johnny Walker via Decision pic.twitter.com/KiIgGVlzyf

— HolyyMMA (@HolyyMMA) May 13, 2023

Johnny Walker confident he’s ready for title challenge with UFC Charlotte win over Anthony Smith: ‘100 percent’

Ahead of his Octagon return this weekend on the main card of UFC Fight Night Charlotte, Brazilian light heavyweight contender, Johnny Walker claims he’s “100 percent” ready for his first shot at divisional gold during his tenure with the UFC. Walker, a product of Dana White’s Contender Series, is slated to return to the Octagon […]

Walker, a product of Dana White’s Contender Series, is slated to return to the Octagon for the second time this year, co-headlining UFC on ABC 4 in a matchup against one-time title challenger and perennial contender, Anthony Smith.

Johnny Walker rides a two-fight winning run into his UFC return this weekend

Last time out on home soil in Rio de Janiero at UFC 283 in Brazil at the beginning of this year, Johnny Walker, the current #7 ranked division contender turned in his second consecutive victory with a first round elbow strikes stoppage of Paul Craig.

Back in September of last year at UFC 279, Walker turned in the first submission triumph of his Octagon run, stopping Ion Cutelaba with an opening round rear-naked choke.

And ahead of his high-profile co-headliner with Smith this weekend in North Carolina, Straight Blast Gym Ireland staple, Walker claimed he was “ready” to challenge for light heavyweight gold off the back of a sought-after win against Smith.

“One hundred percent, I’m ready, but I’m going to keep training every day, and I’m going to develop my skills,” Johnny Walker told assembled media at UFC Charlotte media day on Wednesday. “You can get better every time you train, every camp you train, but depending on the performance that I’m going to put on, it’s going to tell me and everybody else if I’m ready or not.”

Currently, the light heavyweight pack is led by fellow Dana White’s Contender Series product, Jamahal Hill, with the Illinois native capturing gold on the same card as Walker’s stoppage of Craig – landing the vacant light heavyweight crown with a unanimous decision win over the former’s compatriot, former champion, Glover Teixeira.

Anthony Smith welcomes future clash with Alex Pereira ahead of UFC Charlotte: ‘I would love that fight’

One-time light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith may be preoccupied by a fight with another Brazilian this weekend at UFC on ABC 4 in the form of Johnny Walker, however, stressed his interest in welcoming former middleweight champion, Sao Paulo striker, Alex Pereira to the weight class in the future. Smith, the current #5 ranked […]

Smith, the current #5 ranked light heavyweight contender, is slated to co-headline the promotion’s return to Charlotte, North Carolina this weekend – taking on Rio de Janiero native, Walker over the course of three rounds.

Sidelined since a July main card clash with recent vacant title challenger, Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277, Smith has since recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the clash, resulting in a ground strikes TKO blemish.

Prior to that defeat, the Nebraska veteran had embarked on a stunning three fight winning spree, laying waste to emerging talents, Devin Clark, Jimmy Crute, and Ryan Spann.

And as for Pereira, the former middleweight champion, who was touted to struggle at the light heavyweight limit by Smith ahead of his move, is poised to make his Octagon return from a brutal KO loss to Israel Adesanya back in April – in a light heavyweight move.

Anthony Smith notes his admiration for Alex Pereira

However, ahead of his UFC Charlotte return this weekend against Walker, Smith noted his interest in fighting the former’s compatriot, Pereira in the future – noting his admiration for the former two-weight GLORY Kickboxing kingpin.

“Yeah, I would love that fight [with Alex Pereira],” Anthony Smith told assembled media during his availability ahead of UFC Charlotte. “I’m a big fan of Alex, I’m a big kickboxing fan. So I knew who Alex Pereira was before he even came to the MMA side. So I was excited when I seen him get booked at LFA, I believe. I didn’t suspect he would be on the regional scene very long, just because the type of athlete that he is.”

“I think the same problems he would have – outside of Israel Adesanya he would have at 185 [pounds], he would have at 205 [pounds],” Anthony Smith explained. “You know, I’m a huge Israel Adesanya fan, I don’t ever wanna take away anything from that guy, but if Izzy is blast doubling you, and controlling you on the ground. You know, a guy like (Aleksandar) Rakic, (Magomed) Ankalaev, (Jan) Blachowicz, or myself, are gonna give you the same problems.”

Anthony Smith welcomes future clash with Alex Pereira ahead of UFC Charlotte: ‘I would love that fight’

Prior to that defeat, the Nebraska veteran had embarked on a stunning three fight winning spree, laying waste to emerging talents, Devin Clark, Jimmy Crute, and Ryan Spann.

Anthony Smith notes his admiration for Alex Pereira

EXCLUSIVE – Alex Pereira tipped to struggle in UFC light heavyweight move: ‘He’s gonna have problems’

Slated to make his light heavyweight division move later this year, former UFC middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has been backed to struggle in his move to 205lbs by former title challenger, Anthony Smith – who touts the Brazilian’s size for the division, albeit. Pereira, who headlined UFC 287 earlier this month in a title rematch […]

Pereira, who headlined UFC 287 earlier this month in a title rematch against Israel Adesanya, dropped his undisputed middleweight crown in an eventual second round KO to the latter, suffering his first defeat in the promotion to boot.

Seeing an immediate title trilogy rubber match with Adesanya shot down, Sao Paulo striker, Alex Pereira – who had held gold at the light heavyweight and middleweight limit under the GLORY Kickboxing banner, confirmed he would be moving to the 205lbs ranks next.

Anthony Smith expects Alex Pereira to face some problems at light heavyweight

Despite being picked to handily defeat the likes of Jiri Prochazka, and champion, Jamahal Hill in the coming years to win division gold, Pereira has also been tipped to struggle to transition at light heavyweight – according to Nebraska native Smith.

“It is what it is – it’s just another dude,” Anthony Smith told LowKick MMA reporter, James Lynch during a recent interview. “I think he’s (Alex Pereira) gonna have problems at 205 [pounds]. “He’s a monster light heavyweight. Like, put that dude next to Aleksandar Rakic and that dude will make him look tiny. He’s just a regular-sized 205er in the top seven or eight.”

“Obviously, I’m a little bit on the smaller side compared to some of those guys,” Smith continued. “Jan Blachowicz is big. Jiri Prochazka is big. Jamahal Hill is big. Magomed Ankalaev is big. Aleksandar Rakic is absolutely huge. His size was a huge advantage at 185. I think he’s great. I think he’s a fantastic striker. There’s more grapplers and guys that are – I guess I can’t really say that, there are a lot of grapplers at 185, too. Just none that he ran into. Ankalaev would get a takedown on him, it’s just if Pereira can get up. I would rather see him with Rakic.”

Clinching the middleweight title back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden, Pereira rekindled his rivalry with Adesanya – shocking the Nigerian-Kiwi with a stunning come-from-behind fifth round standing TKO victory.

Anthony Smith questions Merab Dvalishvili, Aljamain Sterling friendship: ‘I don’t know if it goes both ways’

Anthony Smith doesn’t believe Aljamain Sterling reciprocates the same level of respect towards teammate Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili earned a significant victory over former champion Petr Yan this past weekend at UFC 71. He’s now the #1 ranked contender in the bantamweight division. Nonetheless, “The Machine” isn’t interested in fighting his teammate and current champion Aljamain […]

Anthony Smith doesn’t believe Aljamain Sterling reciprocates the same level of respect towards teammate Merab Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili earned a significant victory over former champion Petr Yan this past weekend at UFC 71. He’s now the #1 ranked contender in the bantamweight division.

Nonetheless, “The Machine” isn’t interested in fighting his teammate and current champion Aljamain Sterling.

During an appearance on the “Believe You Me” podcast, Smith shared his thoughts on the Dvalishvili-Sterling friendship.

“I think that this has to be kind of a mutual thing,” Smith said. “And it’s gonna be some hard conversations, but if Aljamain is as good of a friend to Merab as Merab is to Aljo – and that’s the thing, I don’t know that I’ve seen it go both ways. What I’ve seen is Merab ride hard as s**t for his best friend. I haven’t always necessarily seen it go the other way for Aljo, maybe he’s just not – well I’m not saying they’re not, I’m just saying I haven’t seen it.” (Transcribed MMA News)

UFC president Dana White advised Dvalishvili to look after his own interests. He doesn’t think it’s a good idea for the Tbilisi, Georgia native to avoid a fight with his close friend.

Merab Dvalishvili Does Not Envision a Scrap with Aljamain Sterling

Dvalishvili and Sterling are long-time teammates who represent the Serra-Longo Fight Team. A matchup between the two bantamweights seems unlikely due to their close relationship but things could change.

There have been many UFC matchups between former teammates. Examples include T.J. Dillashaw-Cody Garbrandt, Colby Covington-Jorge Masivdal, Kamaru Usman-Gilbert Burns and Jon Jones- Rashad Evans.

Sterling is reportedly expected to face Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 on May 8. Since winning the bantamweight title in March 2021, the “Funk Master” has defended the strap twice- against Yan and Dillashaw.

Dvalishvili, 32, is on a nine-fight unbeaten streak. His resume includes wins over Yan, José Aldo, Marlon Moraes, Cody Stamann and John Dodson.