Johnny Walker is eyeing a move to heavyweight as he prepares to face Dominick Reyes on the main card of UFC 327 on Sat., April 11, 2026.
The longtime light heavyweight contender, currently ranked No. 12 at 205 pounds, is seriously considering leaving the division as soon as the next opportunity arises, citing the toll of dieting and weight cutting.
“I’m thinking about it because the diet has been rough,” Walker said, adding that he’s ready to jump if the right chance appears: “If there’s an opportunity, if a heavyweight fight gets cancelled or anything, I’m in.”
Walker revealed he has been sharpening his skills alongside former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. “I’ve been training with Francis Ngannou, sparring with him,” he said. “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?”
For Walker, the move up is about performance and health. “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.”
