TLDR
- Johnny Walker knocked out Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Vegas 124 on Saturday night
- He volunteered to serve as backup for the UFC 334 heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit
- Walker admits his face is swollen from taking many punches but says he didn’t suffer serious injuries
- His brother Valter Walker predicts Johnny will become UFC heavyweight champion in 2027
- If he doesn’t get the UFC 334 call, Walker plans to return in February or March 2027
Sources: bloodyelbow.com | sports.yahoo.com | sherdog.com
Johnny Walker is offering to fight for the UFC heavyweight title just one week after his latest victory. The Brazilian fighter knocked out Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Vegas 124 on Saturday night and immediately volunteered as a backup for UFC 334.
Ciryl Gane defends his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit in the main event at Madison Square Garden in New York next Saturday. Walker told MMA Fighting he would be willing to step in on seven days notice if either fighter drops out.
“If they need someone to step in, I’m here,” Walker said after his win. “If it’s for the title, I’ll do something crazy and fight anyway.”
Mythical fighter unlocked: Johnny Walker with a granite chin
Bro knocked out Waldo and nearly sent Herzog to the shadow realm too. Wtf ðŸ˜#UFCVegas124 pic.twitter.com/yqbqg83yts
— Combat Wire (@CombatWireMMA) November 8, 2026
Physical Condition After Latest Fight
Walker acknowledged taking damage during his victory over Cortes-Acosta. His face is swollen from absorbing multiple punches throughout the fight.
“My face is just a little swollen because I ate a lot of punches, right?” Walker explained. “I got hit a lot, and it got swollen, but I didn’t suffer any injuries.”
Despite his willingness to compete, Walker would need medical clearance before fighting again so soon. The UFC has not confirmed whether they have a backup fighter on standby for the title fight.
The 34-year-old moved to heavyweight earlier in 2026 after struggling at light heavyweight. He knocked out Mick Parkin in his heavyweight debut in October before taking the short-notice fight against Cortes-Acosta.
Walker now has consecutive knockout victories in the heavyweight division. The wins have positioned him as a rising contender in the weight class.
Future Plans and Family Predictions
If the UFC doesn’t need him at UFC 334, Walker plans to take time off for the holidays. He wants to spend Christmas with his family before returning to action.
“Ideally, I’d fight around February or March,” Walker said. He mentioned Josh Hokit as a potential opponent if Hokit loses the title fight.
“Hokit could be an option, right?” Walker added. “If Hokit loses, that would be a wonderful scenario for me, because I could already fight him.”
Walker’s brother, Valter Walker, is also a ranked UFC heavyweight. After Johnny’s win on Saturday, Valter made a prediction on social media.
“I say it and I’ll say it again. My brother is going to be champion next year and will defend the title against anyone,” Valter wrote on X. He also noted that he had been telling Johnny to move up to heavyweight for a long time.
Valter shared a screenshot showing a family member’s bet on Johnny’s fight. The wager turned $5,000 into $13,750.
Johnny has made it clear he will never fight his brother despite both competing in the heavyweight division. Walker’s record now stands at 24-10 with one no contest.
The UFC has multiple heavyweight fighters available who didn’t just compete this past weekend. Walker’s recent brawl and the punches he absorbed could factor into whether the promotion considers him as a realistic backup option for the title fight at Madison Square Garden.
