LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 8: Dana White attends the Power Slap 1 pre-event press conference on March 8, … [+]
The UFC 311 card has taken a hit, and so has Johnny Walker’s stock as a welterweight contender.
The welterweight scrap between Walker and Bogdan Guskov is off. Walker suffered what he described as “bad injury” which is forcing him out of the fight.
Thankfully for Guskov, the UFC has moved quickly to get another opponent in the light heavyweight division. Walker will be replaced by Billy Elekana, a 29-year-old with a 7-1 record.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – AUGUST 04: Billy Elekana looks on before his fight with Chuck Campbell during PFL 2023 … [+]
Elekana is the rare fighter making his UFC debut who didn’t earn a long roster spot Dana White Contender Series. If Elekana performs well, he should have an opportunity to officially join the promotion.
Guskov is ranked 13th, so although a tall order, it’s a great opportunity for Elekana. If anyone is feeling sorry for him, it’s Guskov. Fighting Walker was an opportunity to move up the rankings for Guskov. Walker is currently No. 10, but his stock appears to be falling.
Injuries can happen to anyone, but Walker’s current situation is the latest setback since he burst onto the UFC scene in August 2018.
The uber-athletic 6-foot-6 Brazilian defeated Luis Henrique da Silva in the DWCS and then completed three straight first-round stoppage wins over Khalil Rountree Jr., Justin Ledet and Misha Cirkunov.
Walker was being touted as the guy who could eventually dethrone Jon Jones. Yes, it got that serious.
After the win over Cirkunov at UFC 235, Walker dislocated his shoulder doing the worm like a wild party. Honestly, he hasn’t been the same since the disaster.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 02: Johnny Walker of Brazil celebrates his victory over Misha Cirkunov of … [+]
Since beating Cirkunov and injuring his shoulder, Walker is 3-6-1. He was promptly stopped by Corey Anderson in his next fight and then lost a unanimous decision to Nikita Krylov.
Walker got back to winning ways by defeating Ryan Spann in September 2020, but he went on another two-fight losing streak when he was defeated by Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill in 2021 and early 2022.
It looked like Walker might be back on track as he picked up wins against Ion Cutelaba, Paul Craig and Anthony Smith, but he hit his ceiling in 2023 when he fought Magomed Ankalaev.
In a fight Ankalaev looked to win, Walker said he was unable to continue after being hit with an accidentally illegal knee.
In the rematch, Ankalaev made quick work of Walker with a second-round KO. Walker suffered the same fate against Volkan Oezdemir in June 2024.
There’s been speculation that Walker could be a serious championship contender, and that’s crazy considering he’s only 32 years old. The recent injury only makes the fading shot in contention even more unlikely.
Is Walker a bust?
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 13: Johnny Walker of Brazil has his hands wrapped backstage during … [+]
If the term can be applied to mixed martial arts, he probably fits the definition as well as anyone in recent memory.
Hopefully Walker can bounce back and make a run in his mid-30s. Maybe he can make some noise at heavyweight. At 6’6”, it’s not out of the question.
