Johnny Walker has made one of the most striking statements of the last few hours in the preview of UFC 327 by acknowledging that his jump to heavyweight could take place very soon. The Brazilian, who is still scheduled to fight at light heavyweight, explained that the cut to 205 pounds has been taking its toll on him for some time and that he feels that he is limited to both training and the week of fighting.
Walker said that the process of losing weight leaves him without energy and conditions his preparation, to the point that he is already seriously contemplating competing in a higher division. The Brazilian comes from working in Las Vegas and even mentioned sparring sessions with Francis Ngannou as a reference that has helped him to measure how he could perform against bigger bodies and heavier punchers.
Even so, Walker does not close the door to continue pursuing a good position in the light heavyweight if he obtains important results in the short term. His reading is that he can still make noise in the division, but also that a move to heavyweight could prolong his career and allow him to compete without such a big wear and tear outside the cage.
The news comes at a key moment for the Brazilian, who needs competitive stability and an impact victory to get back into the conversation of a category that has undergone recent changes at the top of the rankings. His words, more than just a comment, hint that the idea of the heavyweight is no longer a distant speculation, but a real possibility in the short or medium term.