UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker will have the chance to snap his difficult winless run at the very first pay-per-view event of 2025.
Walker (21-9, 1 NC) hasn’t had his hand raised since a decision victory over Anthony Smith put him on a three-fight win streak. After a no contest against Magomed Ankalaev halted his title ambitions last year, two devastating results in 2025 have well and truly dashed them.
Following a brutal knockout loss to Ankalaev in their immediate rematch this past January, the Brazilian fell to a similar fate at the hands of Volkan Oezdemir in Saudi Arabia five months later.
If he’s to rebound from those results, Walker will have to avoid the big shots of another of the division’s hardest hitters early next year.
Per Red Corner MMA, the #9-ranked contender is set to defend his place inside the top 10 opposite Bogdan Guskov (16-3) at UFC 311 on Jan. 18.
Since falling to a submission against Oezdemir in a short-notice debut in Paris 13 months ago, “Czarevitch” has put his ferocious power on full display, stopping both Zac Pauga and Ryan Spann inside the distance.
And having broken into the rankings with his triumph over “Superman,” the Uzbekistani brawler will now have his sights on Walker’s top-10 spot at 205 pounds.
The UFC 311 event currently doesn’t have a confirmed location and venue, but Los Angeles is rumored to be hosting the year-opening PPV.
