Johnny Walker is picking against fellow Brazilian Thiago Santos at UFC 239, because he wants to be the man to defeat Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title.
Las Vegas, NV — Arguably no one will be watching the UFC 239 main event between Jon Jones and Thiago Santos more closely than light heavyweight Johnny Walker. Walker (17-3) won his way into the UFC on the Brazilian edition of Dana White’s Contender Series, but he absolutely exploded upon arrival.
Three fights, three wins, three finishes. And three Performance of the Night bonuses to go with them. And so Walker, despite being just a year into his UFC career, as already been tabbed as a future title challenger. Perhaps the next title challenger.
With that in mind, he’ll be on hand at UFC 239. And he’s pulling for ‘Bones’ to win, he told Cageside Press at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas Friday. For the simplest of reasons. “I hope Jon wins, because I want to make history.”
Everyone, of course, wants to be the man to dethrone Jones. Walker, however, seems to have the full package. Speed, power, and the height, something that really only Alexander Gustafsson has been able to match Jones in thus far.
Walker has an inch on Jones, though his reach, officially, is slightly less.
Walker’s dreams of fighting Jones will have to wait, at least for now, however. And there’s always the chance that a name like Luke Rockhold, or the often overlooked Corey Anderson, gets there first.
In the meantime, Walker can dream of other things. Including making the Hall of Fame himself some day. “Yeah of course, why not. Everything’s possible,” he said of the suggestion.
“Of course. I was born for this,” he added. “I was born to be a champ. I was born to make history.”
As for standout moments from his own career thus far, Walker essentially chose his entire UFC run. “My last three fights make me more stronger, because I make three bonuses of the night, three great knockouts. This make me more excited, make me feel proud. [These are] good moments in my career as well.”
“I can’t wait to come back and keep doing a good job.” When he comes back, and against who, remains to be seen. What happens this weekend at UFC 239 could very well play a factor in that.
