Johnny Walker was a much-hyped prospect in the UFC Light Heavyweight division up until UFC 244, where he was finished by Corey Anderson. While Anderson has made the headlines over demanding a title shot after "derailing a hype train", Walker has been relatively quiet about everything and has only recently started to speak out.
In an interview with ESPN, he reflected on his defeat to Corey Anderson and what must be done and the adjustments that must be made to improve next time around. He said that he isn't supposed to "change" too much in terms of his fighting style because he was still applauded at Madison Square Garden while Corey Anderson was booed. He continued, saying:
"Next time, I will do what I did in my last fights [that I won]," Walker said. "I will do my job without waiting, I'll play my game, fight with joy. The winning fighter is the one with the most attitude. I remember I threw a front kick, but I just wanted to see his reaction. I didn't finish the kick. That was one of the things I learned: not hesitating, having confidence. I have to focus more on the psychological part. I have to eliminate what stresses me in the background. I could have knocked him out right there."
He still believes that a meeting with Jon Jones is inevitable down the line:
"I'm disturbing [Jones], for sure. He knows I'm here. We'll probably face each other in the near future. He has a lot to lose. He's never been defeated. He better be afraid, not only of me, but of every top guy out there. He has everything to lose."
Jones is currently scheduled to take on Dominick Reyes in early February in Houston while Corey Anderson will likely sit out and wait for a title shot. As for Walker, he's going to have to go back to the drawing board and pick up a string of wins before challenging for the title.