A light heavyweight match-up brimming with the potential for fireworks between Johnny Walker and Paul Craig kicked off the UFC 283 PPV card on Saturday.
With Walker fighting at home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he had the perfect opportunity to build on his recent victory over Ion Cutelaba. Scotland’s Craig would look to pull off another slick submission in hostile territory opposite the hard-hitting Walker.
Following a short feeling-out process, Walker landed a stiff right hand across the jaw of his opponent, sending Craig crashing to the canvas. Walker subsequently rained down vicious ground and pound strikes, effectively ending the bout halfway through the first round.
His post-fight celebration saw Walker break out “the worm,” despite actually having been injured performing the victory dance in the past.
🤯 @JOHNNYWALKER JUST TORE THE ROOF OFF OF @JEUNESSEARENA!!! #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/fe0NDeRwPi
— UFC (@ufc) January 22, 2023
The #12 ranked Walker now rides a 2-fight win streak, and will look to receive an opponent in the light heavyweight division’s top 10 the next time he steps in the octagon. Despite having some ways to go before the possibility of securing a title shot, Walker sets the bar high for himself and has his eyes on the prize: UFC gold.
“I’m a guy that can generate power from anywhere. I don’t need space, I don’t need anything,” Walker said following the fight. “I don’t give a f*ck. This is my division now,” he added when asked what would be next.
“I want to be like Cormier. I want to have two belts,” Walker told Daniel Cormier in his post-fight interview.
Craig falls to 16-6 after suffering his second consecutive loss, and will likely reevaluate and revamp his game plan prior to his next bout.
Official Result: Johnny Walker def. Paul Craig by TKO (Ground and Pound) Round 1, 2:16
