Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Johnny Walker
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Matched with Jimmy Crute
Walker will take on Jimmy Crute in a light heavyweight matchup scheduled for March 27, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Blink and you might miss this one, as all but two of the pair's 11 combined UFC fights have finished in the first round. Walker rebounded from a pair of losses by knocking out Ryan Spann in September, while Crute bounced back from the only loss of his professional career in September of 2019 with a pair of first-round wins last year. Walker enters this one with significant advantages in both height (four inches) and reach (eight inches).
Blink and you might miss this one, as all but two of the pair's 11 combined UFC fights have finished in the first round. Walker rebounded from a pair of losses by knocking out Ryan Spann in September, while Crute bounced back from the only loss of his professional career in September of 2019 with a pair of first-round wins last year. Walker enters this one with significant advantages in both height (four inches) and reach (eight inches).
Earns much needed victory
Walker defeated Ryan Spann via TKO (elbows) at 2:46 of Round 1 at UFC FIght Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
The finish was pretty, but it didn't come easy for Walker. Spann cracked Walker early and pushed in for a takedown along the fence moments later, but Walker managed to remain upright and connect with multiple vicious elbows to the side of Spann's head. Spann and his camp were furious, feeling the strikes were to the back of the head and illegal, but referee Dan Miragliotta disagreed and eventually stopped the bout, awarding it to Walker. Walker has more offensive ability than he knows what to do with, but his defensive game could charitably be called a work in progress. Regardless, he emerged with the victory he needed after losing back-to-back fights coming into this one. Now he needs to follow it up with another strong effort.
The finish was pretty, but it didn't come easy for Walker. Spann cracked Walker early and pushed in for a takedown along the fence moments later, but Walker managed to remain upright and connect with multiple vicious elbows to the side of Spann's head. Spann and his camp were furious, feeling the strikes were to the back of the head and illegal, but referee Dan Miragliotta disagreed and eventually stopped the bout, awarding it to Walker. Walker has more offensive ability than he knows what to do with, but his defensive game could charitably be called a work in progress. Regardless, he emerged with the victory he needed after losing back-to-back fights coming into this one. Now he needs to follow it up with another strong effort.
Fighting Spann in September
Walker will face Ryan Spann in a light heavyweight fight scheduled for Sept. 19 at UFC 253 at a yet-to-be-determined location, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Walker will be making his first appearance since losing to Nikita Krylov via unanimous decision in mid-March. He began his career on a 3-0 tear, but has since struggled to contend with a step up in competition. Walker is now set to take on Spann, who is a perfect 4-0 under the UFC banner and looking to take a step forward of his own. Walker has height and reach advantages, plus throws and lands a higher striking volume (though he absorbs more as well). Spann has a bit more grappling in his arsenal, but Walker has yet to be taken down in five UFC bouts.
Walker will be making his first appearance since losing to Nikita Krylov via unanimous decision in mid-March. He began his career on a 3-0 tear, but has since struggled to contend with a step up in competition. Walker is now set to take on Spann, who is a perfect 4-0 under the UFC banner and looking to take a step forward of his own. Walker has height and reach advantages, plus throws and lands a higher striking volume (though he absorbs more as well). Spann has a bit more grappling in his arsenal, but Walker has yet to be taken down in five UFC bouts.
Drops decision to Nikita Krylov
Walker lost to Nikita Krylov via unanimous decision (27-30, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
Walker's move to TriStar did not produce it's intended results. The good news for Walker is that he managed to see the final bell after being knocked out by Corey Anderson in just 2:07 his last time out. Walker's issue on Saturday was that he simply couldn't get off of his back. Krylov controlled nearly the entire fight on the mat and Walker never had the opportunity to get to his prestigious power. The sample size is obviously small, but Walker has the look of a one-dimensional knockout artist. His cardio is not good and he doesn't possess a well-rounded offensive arsenal. Walker is now in no man's land after seemingly being on the verge of a title shot not all that long ago.
Walker's move to TriStar did not produce it's intended results. The good news for Walker is that he managed to see the final bell after being knocked out by Corey Anderson in just 2:07 his last time out. Walker's issue on Saturday was that he simply couldn't get off of his back. Krylov controlled nearly the entire fight on the mat and Walker never had the opportunity to get to his prestigious power. The sample size is obviously small, but Walker has the look of a one-dimensional knockout artist. His cardio is not good and he doesn't possess a well-rounded offensive arsenal. Walker is now in no man's land after seemingly being on the verge of a title shot not all that long ago.
Switching fight camps
Walker will switch camps to Tristar Gym in Montreal ahead of his next scheduled fight, Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Walker is currently lined up to fight Nikita Krylov in Brazil on March 14, as he looks to bounce back from a devastating TKO loss at the hands of Corey Anderson last November. Just 27 years old, Walker started his career scorching hot, as he was able to successfully blitz his first three UFC opponents en route to first-round finishes. The competition grew a notch for the Anderson fight, which made evident this technique would no longer be sustainable. He'll now head up to Canada to work under the tutelage of esteemed coach Firas Zahabi and future UFC hall-of-famer Georges St-Pierre, which should help Walker make the necessary strides in both his striking and wrestling. As a result, it would be fair to expect a more disciplined and all-around improved Walker the next time he enters the cage.
Walker is currently lined up to fight Nikita Krylov in Brazil on March 14, as he looks to bounce back from a devastating TKO loss at the hands of Corey Anderson last November. Just 27 years old, Walker started his career scorching hot, as he was able to successfully blitz his first three UFC opponents en route to first-round finishes. The competition grew a notch for the Anderson fight, which made evident this technique would no longer be sustainable. He'll now head up to Canada to work under the tutelage of esteemed coach Firas Zahabi and future UFC hall-of-famer Georges St-Pierre, which should help Walker make the necessary strides in both his striking and wrestling. As a result, it would be fair to expect a more disciplined and all-around improved Walker the next time he enters the cage.