Johnny Walker is ready for a change.
The longtime Light Heavyweight contender will take on former title challenger Dominick Reyes this weekend (Sat., April 11, 2026) on the main card of UFC 327 in a collision of ranked 205-pounders. Though it’s a fight that could move either man closer to a title shot, Walker is still seriously considering a Heavyweight move at the next possible opportunity.
Standing at 6’5” with an 82 inch reach, Walker is a big man, and the cut is no easy task.
“I’m thinking about
it because the diet has been rough,” Walker told MMA Fighting. “If there’s an opportunity, if a heavyweight fight gets cancelled or anything, I’m in.”
In addition, Walker looks to his recent training sessions with former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou as inspiration for a Heavyweight move. The Brazilian knockout artist believes that if he can keep up with “The Predator” while cutting weight, then surely a fully-fed version of Walker could do well in the biggest weight class.
“I’ve been training with Francis Ngannou, sparring with him,” Walker explained. “Even while dieting, with about a 44-pound difference since I’m much lighter now, I’ve been able to train with him just fine. Even in wrestling, strength, and ground-and-pound. If I can do that while dieting, imagine without it?”
Walker continued, “It’d be way better [at heavyweight] because on a diet I can’t train properly. I get dizzy, low on energy because of the lack of carbs. I can’t wait to move up and be able to train at 100 percent, even close to the fight. When a heavyweight is fighting on the same card as me and I see them training during fight week, doing all kinds of stuff, and I’m there depleted, no energy, it’s tough. But… I’m going to move up. It won’t take long.”
For the record, I’ve been banging the Walker-to-Heavyweight drum since 2022, and indeed, this is not the first time Walker has teased a Heavyweight move. After eight years on the roster, Walker may be ranked at No. 12, but he’s not exactly considered an immediate title threat even if he defeats Dominick Reyes. Meanwhile, the Heavyweight division is weaker than ever, and perhaps a less restrictive diet and full hydration could bulk up that problematic Walker jawline.
Time for some brother vs. brother violence?
