NEW YORK – Believe it or not, Johnny Walker doesn’t want to win by flashy knockout Saturday night.
When Brazil’s Walker (17-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) squares off with fellow light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson (12-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden, he hopes to prove to himself and the world he can go all three rounds.
In his first three UFC outings, Walker has run through his competition. Three fights. Three victories. Three knockouts. But it’s never been his intent.
“I never thought about finishing my fights quickly,” Walker told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I sell three rounds. Then I pay for three rounds. Then I have three rounds to show. It’s happened before.. I don’t want to finish quickly. It’s just happened quickly. I don’t know why.”
It’s not everyday you hear a fighter say he is gunning for a fight to go the full 15 minutes, but Walker stated just that. For this training camp, the light heavyweight fighter packed up shop and moved to Russia. When he gets in the cage, he wants to be able to feel the benefits of his improved cardio.
“I think it’s a good match for me,” Walker said. “I can show everybody three-round fights now. I think he can survive for three rounds. So it’s going to be a good match. I hope he can survive. I want to bring a decision right now.
“… I want to feel it. I want to feel my gas. I want to see how long I can go. I have a very good cardio, so I have to test myself. I will beat him a little bit easy, so I don’t knock him out quickly. Then I can fight as long as I can.”
By going the distance, Walker wants to prove to everyone he is more than a fighter who can knock people out. There are other facets to his game, which the UFC audience hasn’t been exposed to – yet.
“I’m not just flying knees and kicks and crazy stuff,” Walker said. “I have wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Pretty much everything (you need) in an MMA fight. Let’s do it. Whatever he wants, I’m ready.”
Walker has not competed since March, when he suffered a shoulder injury as a result of a failed “worm” celebration. While the botched flop landed him on the shelf for eight months, Walker isn’t making any promises he won’t attempt the dance again on Saturday night.
“I don’t know,” Walker said. “You never know what happens when I’m very happy and have a lot of energy. I don’t know. I hope I can hold myself and do something safe.”
UFC 244 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN2/ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Johnny Walker wants decision win at UFC 244 in order to prove a point: 'I'm not just flying knees'
