Tag: Johnny Walker

Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Johnny Walker after UFC Fight Night 234 loss?

Johnny Walker once again stumbled when presented with a chance break through in the light heavyweight title picture at UFC Fight Night 234.

(ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Magomed Ankalaev after UFC Fight Night 234 win?)

[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] once again stumbled when presented with an opportunity to break through in the light heavyweight title picture Saturday at UFC Fight Night 234.

Walker (21-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) suffered a second-round knockout loss to Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) in their rematch at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, bringing an end to the Brazilian’s four-fight unbeaten streak and sending him back to the drawing board in terms of the championship queue.

Fortunately for Walker, his typically exciting and unorthodox style still makes him a candidate for big matchups going forward.

Whom should he fight next? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Walker’s future after UFC Fight Night 234.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 post-event facts: Jim Miller adds more records to epic resume

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 234, which saw Jim Miller grow his all-time wins record and add more history to his resume.

The UFC returned from its holiday hiatus on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and although it wasn’t the most stacked lineup, UFC Fight Night 234 delivered seven stoppage results out of 11 bouts.

In the main event, Magomed Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) produced definitive closure on his rivalry with Johnny Walker (21-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC), scoring a second-round knockout in their light heavyweight rematch to potentially set himself up for a championship opportunity.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Jim Miller, Andrei Arlovski get max non-title payouts

UFC Fight Night 234 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 234 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $159,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 234 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 234 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Brunno Ferreira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Preston Parsons[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marcus McGhee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Farid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Taylor Lapilus[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Westin Wilson[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Tom Nolan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Felipe Bunes[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2341 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

  • “UFC Fight Night 234: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2” – $159,500

Year-to-date total: $159,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $22,866,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 results: Magomed Ankalaev floors Johnny Walker, makes case for title shot

After their first meeting resulted in a no contest, Magomed Ankalaev made a statement by knocking out Johnny Walker in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] made the light heavyweight title picture much more interesting after his performance at UFC Fight Night 234.

Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) had frustrating results in his last two walks to the cage, but found relief in his second meeting against Johnny Walker. The Russian made a statement by scoring a vicious knockout of Walker (21-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at 2:42 of Round 2 in the main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Walker wasted little time unleashing flashy, unorthodox techniques; a spinning back kick, soon followed by a question mark kick, and then a hook kick was offered. As usual, Ankalaev remained calm within his space and waited for opportunities to work his offense.

A hard warning was issued to Ankalaev after a kick went south, causing the fight to pause, and resurfacing memories of the no contest from UFC 294. The fight continued, with Walker showing off some capoeira skills before the horn.

Heavy leg kicks were traded early in Round 2. Ankalaev stalked forward, putting the pressure on Walker, making him uncomfortable. Walker stepped in looking for a kick, but a counter right sent him crashing to the canvas against the cage. Ankalaev followed up with one more right hand that appeared to severely damage Walker’s nose. The fight was immediately stopped as Walker covered his face.

Ankalaev scored another victory, having not experienced defeat since 2018. Although his last two walks to the cage resulted in a split draw and a no contest, Ankalaev has firmly placed himself in consideration for a shot at the light heavyweight crown, currently held by Alex Pereira.

“The most important thing is that I’m ready to fight for the title,” Ankalaev said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview. “I have 10 victories in a row. It’s been a long time, I’m worth it, give me that fight for the title now.”

The light heavyweight title picture is becoming crowded. Former champ Jamahal Hill was in attendance to watch Ankalaev’s victory. Hill vacated the title after an injury and believes when healthy, his return fight will be for the title.

Walker takes his first defeat since February 2022, which came by knockout against the aforementioned Hill. He rebounded nicely with a trio of wins, but will need to regroup after Ankalaev halted his momentum.

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Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 234 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

Social media reacts to Magomed Ankalaev’s KO of Johnny Walker in UFC Fight Night 234 rematch

The MMA community reacted to Magomed Ankalaev’s vicious knockout of Johnny Walker in their UFC Fight Night 234 main event rematch.

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] left no doubt in his rematch with [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 234 main event.

After an illegal knee from Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) cause his initial meeting with Walker (21-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at UFC 294 in October to end in a no contest, the rematch at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas had no controversy.

Ankalaev defeated Walker by second-round knockout, extending his unbeaten streak in the light heavyweight division to 12 fights, and putting the Russian within striking distance of another title shot.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Ankalaev’s victory over Walker at UFC Fight Night 234.

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UFC Fight Night 234 video: Magomed Ankalaev, Johnny Walker make weight for rematch

The main event for the UFC’s first show of the year is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

LAS VEGAS – The main event title for a key light heavyweight bout is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

Ahead of UFC Fight Night 234, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

Ankalaev registered at 204.5 pounds, while Walker used part of the non-title allowance, coming in at 205.5 pounds for the rematch of a controversial no contest from UFC 294 in October.

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Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 breakdown: How misleading are Magomed Ankalaev-Johnny Walker rematch odds?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Fight Night 234 headliner between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

UFC free fight: Johnny Walker taps Ion Cutelaba for first submission win in octagon

Watch Johnny Walker’s first submission win in the UFC.

Better late than never, [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]’s first submission win in the octagon came four years into his UFC tenure.

The fan favorite UFC light heavyweight contender scored his first submission win in September 2022 in the opening bout of the UFC 279 pay-per-view. Walker submitted a tough Ion Cutelaba in the very first round of their contest after going back and forth on the ground with the Moldovan fighter.

You can watch Walker in the video above.

Walker (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) returns to the octagon this Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 234 event in Las Vegas. He takes on Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC)in an important light heavyweight fight.

The two fought in October, but the bout ended in a no contest after Ankalaev connected with an illegal knee on a downed Walker and Walker was rendered unable to continue.

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Magomed Ankalaev: Johnny Walker won’t have chance to ‘throw the fight’ again in UFC Fight Night 234 rematch

Magomed Ankalaev plans to beat Johnny Walker with no controversy in their UFC Fight Night 234 and move on a light heavyweight title shot.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] still thinks he was well on his way to defeating [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] in October, and intends to pick up where he left off in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 234 rematch.

Ankalaev (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) was performing well against Walker (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in their initial encounter at UFC 294 before he threw and landed an illegal knee that led to a no contest. The pair will run it back to settle the score, but this time in a five-round main event at the UFC Apex, which streams on ESPN+.

To this day, Ankalaev, 31, thinks Walker, 31, could’ve continued fighting the first time they met. The doctor ultimately deemed the Brazilian was unable to continue and the bout was waved off, and Ankalaev thinks Walker was happy to have it play out that way.

“After that shot, he was actually the one trying to tell me that was an illegal blow – so he was conscious enough and in his mind enough to say, ‘Hey dude, that was illegal,'” Ankalaev told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 234 media day. “And then when they stopped the fight all of a sudden he started playing this whole thing of like, ‘Oh, I can’t fight anymore’ or whatever. But I’m pretty sure that he was basically just trying to throw the fight because he seemed to be just fine.”

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Although he was disappointed with how things played out, Ankalaev has become accustomed to taking deflating moments in stride during his UFC career. His highly controversial stoppage win over Ion Cutelaba in February 2020 required an immediate rematch, too, and he also competed in an ultra-rare title fight draw with Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 in December 2022.

Ankalaev said he’s happy the promotion was able to put together the rematch with Walker just three months after the first fight, and it’s his top priority to win this fight in a manner that provides zero doubt about who is the better man.

“I’m not looking for just coming out there and having my hand raised at the end of the fight,” Ankalaev said. “What I want to do is I want to make sure that I get there, I make a statement and the fight is going to be over way before the final bell.”

If Ankalaev emerges victorious, he will be on a 12-fight unbeaten streak. He’s already the No. 4 fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, and sees few paths forward aside from a championship encounter with current titleholder Alex Pereira.

“I believe that 2024 is my year, and by the end of this year, you’ll see that the strap is around my waist,” Ankalaev said. “As the managers are telling me, it’s basically if I win this fight, there is nobody else who deserves the title run more than I do.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.

UFC Fight Night 234 pre-event facts: Jim Miller, Andrei Arlovski look to build on all-time wins leads

The best facts about UFC Fight Night 234, which features chances for Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski to add to their historic resumes.

After a nearly monthlong hiatus, the UFC opens its 2024 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 234, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

Light heavyweight contenders are set to rematch in the main event of the card. [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will run it back with five rounds scheduled after their originally meeting at UFC 294 in October ended in a no contest due to an illegal knee from Ankalaev that halted the action.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 234.

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