UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz - Predictions and Picks

#5 Corey Anderson vs. Johnny Walker

Johnny Walker has rocketed to fame thanks to his explosive style

Dominick Reyes might appear to be next in line for Jon Jones, but if you ask most fans who the fighter they want to see face the champion next is, Johnny Walker might be the first name that comes to mind. Sure, the curiously named Brazilian has only had three fights in the Octagon – and he’s also coming back from a self-inflicted dislocated shoulder – but wow, those three fights.

Walker stopped Khalil Rountree with a series of standing elbows in his debut, switched off Justin Ledet with a spinning backfist in his second fight, and most recently took out Misha Cirkunov with a flying knee in March. That sounds practically too good to be true, but such is the insane athletic ability of Walker.

The strangest thing is that Walker isn’t a fighter who’s looked perfect on the regional scene prior to arriving in the UFC. He’s always been a crazy athlete, but he’s also lost to the likes of Klidson Abreu and Wagner Prado in his pre-UFC days, and was taken to a decision in his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series by UFC washout Henrique Da Silva.

The most likely explanation? At 27 he’s just hitting his prime, he’s totally comfortable with his lanky 6’5” frame now, and he’s coming in with more confidence than ever. And so it’s up to Anderson – a much more meat-and-potatoes fighter – to knock him off that pedestal, if he can.

Anderson, the winner of the 21st season of TUF at 205lbs, has slowly matured as a fighter too. Always a powerful wrestler, he used his takedowns and top control to beat the likes of Fabio Maldonado and Jan Blachowicz in his early days, but his penchant for brawling caught up with him in his KO losses to Gian Villante and Ovince St. Preux.

Recently though, he’s looked smoother on his feet and was even able to outstrike Glover Teixeira last year by largely using the threat of the takedown to set up his punches. Can he beat Walker, then? If he can ground him and keep him there, sure. But it’s also a risky bet given he’s been stopped by strikes three times before, and will also be at a reach disadvantage, something he’s not used to given he’s got a 79” reach.

I’d be a major spoiler for everyone if Anderson were able to grind out a win over the explosive Brazilian here but I’m not going to pick it; ‘Overtime’ has been snacking on slower, less athletic fighters recently, and the last time he faced someone as fast and more importantly, as long as Walker, he was knocked out violently by Jimi Manuwa.

With that in mind, I’m going for Walker to uncork another wild knockout here – hopefully setting up a future meeting with Jon Jones in the process.

The Pick: Walker via first round KO