Johnny Walker is riding high off his UFC 279 win over Ion Cuțelaba.
UFC 279 made headlines in many ways, with the headliner switch, and the brawl backstage beforehand, the eyes seemed to be on Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev. All the while Johnny Walker had an amazing performance on the main card when he submitted Cuțelaba in the very first round.
Walker got the win but was forced to leave the arena before the celebrating could begin. Walker was apparently thrown out without his shoes or shirt following his fight. His coach John Kavanagh took to social media afterward to complain about the treatment.
When asked about this moment in an interview with The Schmo, Walker made a joke about the experience. Coincidentally he was not wearing a shirt for this interview either.
“I’m like a Brazilian boy, no, like I’m a jungle boy. No shirts, no flip flops, like a Tarzan. Like natural human beings,” Walker said.
Johnny Walker is eyeing a shot at UFC Brazil in January
Walker’s win at UFC 279 was his first in his last three fights. Walker was at one point in his career very close to a title shot but a string of bad luck and losses has slid him down to the number 11 spot in the rankings. He still has aspirations of becoming a champion and wants to get back in the cage right away.
“100%, I already train Monday and I train today we’re gonna train tomorrow no holidays let’s keep f–king go and I want to fight against someone, keep climbing to the top,” Walker explained. “Not really, really soon, but I already train you know, but when I come back probably I want to really want to fight in UFC Rio, January 23. I’m going to get married December 1. I’m going to Thailand before like next month, October 5 I think and to start my training I want to do a little Muay Thai, strength conditioning, then go to the wedding, have little party and just switch back to training.”
Walker has been training at SBG gym in Ireland, the home gym of Conor McGregor, but seems he will be adding new elements to his skillset in different places. Walker received a performance bonus for his win this past weekend and sees himself fighting against the top men in the division in no time.
