Table of Content
Johnny Walker expressed frustration over fans questioning his durability leading into his second heavyweight bout this past weekend at UFC Fight Night 293. The Brazilian fighter answered his critics by securing another impressive finish in the main event.
A Successful Heavyweight Run
Walker, a longtime competitor in the UFC light heavyweight division, made his heavyweight debut last month with a first-round knockout of Mick Parkin at UFC 332. He accepted a short-notice fight against top contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta as the main event on Saturday. Although he entered the matchup as an underdog with many expecting him to get knocked out, Walker proved the oddsmakers wrong to bring his heavyweight record to 2-0.
Addressing the Critics
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Walker admitted that negative comments from a small portion of the fanbase affected him, as reported by sports.yahoo.com. He praised the overwhelming majority of supporters for sending love, but criticized the negative one percent for lacking understanding of high-performance sports.
“In reality, 99 percent of the fan base, they are amazing,” Walker said, as quoted by sports.yahoo.com. “They spread so much love. They send so much love. They’re so supportive. But I don’t know how 1 percent have such power when they talk sh*t.”
Walker added that his critics have never competed at a high level or taken a punch, making their comments about professional fighters and training teams annoying.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on his performance against an opponent who had never been finished before, Walker believes he could have ended the fight even earlier with more self-trust. He aims to stay sharp and finish any opponent next, whether it is a champion or a top-ranked contender.
Following two fights within a single month, Walker plans to rest his body—noting that his foot would be sore from kicks—though he remains open to returning quickly if an enticing opportunity arises.
