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Johnny Walker opens up on quick rise in UFC heavyweight division

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2 days ago

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Johnny Walker opens up on quick rise in UFC heavyweight division
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UFC veteran Johnny Walker has discussed his ongoing tenure in the heavyweight division ahead of his return to the cage.

Last month, Johnny Walker made his way up to the heavyweight division and put forward a real statement. He knocked Mick Parkin out with a nasty knee, setting himself up for a big challenge in his sophomore outing.

RELATED: Johnny Walker ‘disappointed' after UFC 327 loss in first comments since ‘This is boring' chants

That challenge will come in the form of Johnny Walker squaring off against Waldo Cortes Acosta. Given the way in which both men like to fight, we can safely assume that there are going to be some fireworks this weekend.

In a recent interview, Johnny Walker opened up about this quick rise to prominence at heavyweight and how he originally saw things going.

Johnny Walker talks about heavyweight run

“I never make a plan,†Walker said. “I just get ready for the worst situation. You think I planned to knock Mick Parkin like that last time? I hadn't planned that, just happened, you know? It's more like an instinct. You get ready, train, sharp your skills, everything – but the day of the fight, of course you follow a little bit of gameplan, but you can't predict 100 percent what's going to happen.â€

“I was thinking to take small steps and go slow through the division, you know? Feel how I feel in the heavyweight,†Walker said. “That was my plan, and as I said before, God have different plan than me. God's plan not my plan. He have better plans for me, so I just accept the faith, and here we are.â€

Quotes via MMA Junkie

What do you make of Walker's approach to the fight game? Can you see him competing for a world title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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MMA

UFC Vegas 124 ‘Cortes-Acosta vs. Walker’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Published

3 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

UFC Vegas 124 ‘Cortes-Acosta vs. Walker’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Sherdog’s live
UFC Vegas 124 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The
event is also known as
UFC Fight Night 293.

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
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Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

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The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

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The Official Result

Round 1

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

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Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tudor Leonte scores the round:
Mike Sloan scores the round:

The Official Result

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MMA

Dana White calls out Islam Makhachev over UFC activity: ‘It backs up the division’

Published

21 hours ago

on

November 6, 2026

By

Dana White calls out Islam Makhachev over UFC activity: ‘It backs up the division’
Dana White has slammed Islam
Makhachev’s activity.

After defending his title against Ian Garry in
August, Makhachev called for another title defense before Ramadan
2027. The Dagestani even singled out Carlos
Prates as his next challenger. According to the
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO, the matchup was verbally
agreed for UFC
336 on Jan. 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto before
Makhachev changed his mind.

Dana White claims Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates was
‘verbally agreed'

While White doesn't expect Makhachev to fight three times a year at
this stage in his career, he would like him to fight at least twice
a year.

“That was verbally agreed to… I like when guys fight a lot,†White
said during a media scrum captured by TheMacLife. “Being a
champion, I don’t really expect you to fight three times a year.
But twice would be nice. It backs up the division; there are many
guys who would like a shot at the title.â€

Makhachev (29-1) hasn't fought more than twice a year since 2022.
Prates (24-7) and unbeaten welterweight contender Michael
Morales (19-0) are now set to contest interim gold at UFC 336,
with the winner set to fight Makhachev after Ramadan.

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MMA

UFC champion reveals mother may have final say in retirement call: ‘I will obey her word’

Published

23 hours ago

on

November 6, 2026

By

UFC champion reveals mother may have final say in retirement call: ‘I will obey her word’

Islam Makhachev has followed Khabib Nurmagomedov's footsteps in more ways than one, and that might include how he decides to end his fighting career.

Nurmagomedov, Makhachev's close friend and mentor, memorably retired in October 2020 following a win over Justin Gaethje that marked his third straight defense of the UFC lightweight title and improved his flawless record to 29-0. Afterwards, Nurmagomedov declared he was done with fighting, citing a promise to his mother that he would no longer fight with the recent passing of his father, legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

Now, Makhachev is making a similar vow.

“My mother has always been against me fighting,†Makhachev told Red Corner MMA at the Sambo World Championship event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. “I've always listened to my mother, so soon I will obey her word.â€

Like Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has carved out an unassailable legacy in MMA. The 35-year-old recorded his first successful welterweight title defense by defeating Ian Machado Garry this past August at UFC 330, and holds the record for the most consecutive successful title defenses in the lightweight division with four. He has won 17 straight fights since losing to Adriano Martins in his second UFC appearance, and holds a pro record of 29-1.

Makhachev's next challenger will be determined by an interim title bout between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales at UFC 336 in January, and after he faces the winner, he's still not sure when exactly he'll make a decision on his final fight.

“There's no number,†Makhachev said. “I am just reaching the finish line. There aren't many things that could give me motivation in this sport. I'm at the finish line. I just want to fight the contenders, but I don't see any new names.â€

Makhachev has received criticism for not facing neither Prates nor Morales in January, instead letting one of the challengers remove the other from the equation. Asked which fighter presents a bigger threat to his championship reign, Makhachev sounded unworried.

“It's a good fight and I think both of them deserve a title shot,†Makhachev said. “That's why I would like to see which of them is more deserving. We'll find out in January.â€

“They are both good,†he added. “They are both punchers. Although, I wouldn't say either of them is a threat for me. I am a bad matchup for them stylistically.â€

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