“Very big surprises for him,” Johnny Walker aims to do ‘whatever it takes’ to defeat Magomed Ankalaev and challenge Alex Pereira at UFC 300

In the build-up to UFC Fight Night 234’s main event, Johnny Walker is motivated by a desire for vengeance against Magomed Ankalaev. He envisions a route that may lead him to UFC 300 for a possible fight with Alex Pereira. Walker (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and Ankalaev (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) will square off in a fiery rematch after their first meeting at UFC 294 ended in a no-contest.

Johnny Walker told The Schmo that a victory over Ankalaev would cement his position as the top contender in the light heavyweight class. He was determined to make amends for their previous meeting and emphasized his knowledge of Ankalaev’s strength. Walker hinted at “very big surprises” for his opponent in the upcoming battle. This is what he had to say:

I have some business to deal with (Ankalaev) because the last fight was not the way I expected it to be. I felt him already. I felt everything. I know his power and I have some very big surprises for him. I just have to beat Ankalaev first. Whatever it takes, I’ll be ready

Johnny Walker via The Schmo

Looking ahead, Walker’s sights are set on UFC 300, where he hopes to face UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Pereira had hinted at the idea of a major event on Instagram with a cryptic “300” post. This had generated suspicion about what was to come. Walker is ready to grasp the opportunity against Pereira if he defeats Ankalaev.

Johnny Walker’s fight, if successful against Ankalaev, has the potential to thrust him into the spotlight as a serious title contender. The thought of facing Alex Pereira at UFC 300 adds a fascinating layer to Walker’s ambitions.

What happened in the first fight between Johnny Walker and Magomed Ankalaev?

Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker’s highly anticipated UFC 294 main event battle ended in chaos and uncertainty. This left both fighters and onlookers perplexed. The highly anticipated match, expected to be explosive, unexpectedly turned and resulted in a no-contest decision.

The decisive moment came in the first round when Magomed Ankalaev landed a hard knee to Walker’s head while he was down. This prompted the referee to step in and separate the two fighters. The illegal action caused a brief delay in the bout while the cage-side doctor assessed Walker’s condition. A discussion between Walker and the doctor occurred, casting doubt on the magnitude of the knee’s impact.

Dana White explained the confusing sequence of events. During his conversation with the doctor, Walker voiced concerns that everything might get “lost in translation.” Supposedly startled, Walker failed to answer simple questions about the fight.

This led to the attribution of the no-contest decision to fears about a probable concussion. During the commotion, Walker shoved the referee, who looked ready to continue the bout despite the apparent infringement. Security guards raced into the Octagon quickly. UFC CEO Dana White and Walker’s head coach, John Kavanagh, also rushed in to diffuse the rising tension. 

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