Johnny Walker has revealed that he was far from 100% healthy heading into his heavyweight main event against Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Vegas 124.
Walker scored a spectacular knockout victory over Cortes-Acosta on Saturday, earning his second KO win in just 34 days. The Brazilian is now 2-0 since moving up to the heavyweight division after previously competing at 205 pounds.
The latest victory came on short notice, just over a month after Walker stopped Mick Parkin with a first-round knockout in Salt Lake City. However, the quick turnaround came with its share of physical challenges, as the 34-year-old revealed he was dealing with several injuries heading into the matchup.
Speaking to UFC News after the fight, Walker explained how he approached the contest and why he believed he was gradually finding his rhythm before landing the finishing blow.
“He was punching, I was punching back. (It) was a fight. (It) was a proper fight, and I don't feel that he was winning. I just feel that I was finding my spot, and I feel that he was overreaching, and he was trying very hard to hit me, and he missed very bad a few times, and he really wanted to finish quickly the fight with one punch. And I probably feel that he will overreach, and I wanted to catch him, and it's what happened,” Walker said.
The Brazilian also discussed his approach to the fight, explaining that he largely stuck to the fundamentals while occasionally allowing his unpredictable style to take over.
“I don't make fucking plans, you know? My plan was what you've seen most of the fight: jab, stick in and out, go the other side, one-two, kick the leg, come back to one side. This is my movement, and between there, I would put my 10%, (of) my craziness. It's what the coach said to me, you know. Stick with the basics. I did, but don't forget who you are, and sometimes I be myself and myself win the fight. I think I should put myself first.”
However, Walker's biggest revelation came when discussing the injuries he sustained during his preparations for the short-notice heavyweight matchup.
According to the Brazilian, he returned to training shortly after his knockout victory over Parkin and suffered additional problems during a sparring session. The incident left him dealing with discomfort in his neck, shoulder, elbow, and trapezius muscles, ultimately affecting his approach against Cortes-Acosta.
“Sometimes it was one week notice, bro. Seven days or nine days, I don't know. I was I was staying ready, you know? After my fight in Salt Lake City, I just went to the gym Monday. Monday I was in the gym lifting weights, and I did a few sparrings. I was still feeling my foot a little bit.
“And on the first sparring for this fighter, I hit (my sparring partner). Probably he have two hundred eight pounds, and I take (him) down, I throw him on the front, I fell on top of him, I feel my neck, feel my shoulder, feel everything like, ‘fuck, I think I hurt (myself),’ and my neck was all blocked here, and I fought like this.
“And this is why I didn't take (Waldo) much him down, because I was scared to hurt myself again, because my shoulder and my elbow, my traps was blocked still, you know? It's getting better now, so I'll be ready for next week. But for this fight, I was not 100%, but you know, I always try to stay ready and healthy, and that's it.”
Despite the physical setbacks, Walker managed to deliver another impressive performance, extending his winning streak and establishing himself as an intriguing new addition to the heavyweight division.
