Johnny Walker emerged as a surprising victor in his UFC Shanghai main event clash against rising prospect Zhang Mingyang. Despite entering the fight as a significant underdog after suffering two consecutive knockout losses, Walker managed to turn the tables with a stunning TKO victory.
Walker attempted to catch Mingyang off guard with a takedown just seconds into the bout. However, the Chinese fighter quickly reversed the position and took control from the top. Once back on their feet, Walker adopted a more conservative fighting style, interspersed with some flashy moves. The decisive moment came in the second round when Walker landed a well-timed calf kick, which significantly hurt Mingyang.
In an emotional post-fight interview on the UFC show, Walker reflected on his experience in the octagon: “I’m fighting top 10 for six, seven years, and I fight trained killers. I’m a trained killer too, so he has to worry because as the guy can get hurt and knocked out and sleep, so do I. Everybody can get hurt in this game. The fight was very emotional for us because we know how hard we train. This is the hardest job in the world.”
Having his brother, Valter Walker, in his corner during the fight added to the emotional weight for Johnny. This victory marked the end of his three-fight winless streak in the UFC, a period he described as particularly challenging. Training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas provided him with a boost of confidence, but Walker admitted that he struggled to perform at his peak following a lengthy 14-month layoff.
“I feel very good. I just need a little bit more time to use my full game,” Walker explained. “Long time no fight, one year, you know? I get just a little bit shy, not very trustworthy. That’s why I hugged him when I put him down. My takedown wasn’t very effective. Long time no fight, lost a little bit of timing for everything.”
As the second round progressed, Walker began to find his rhythm. “On the second round, I started warming up a little bit better, start move better, start feel the fight, ‘OK, now it’s time to go a little bit forward.’ He took good shots on me and I took my time to recover. It took three, five seconds to recover from the shots. Good, clean shots. I have chin, motherf*ckers! And yeah, this is the job, I love it,” he remarked, emphasizing his resilience.
This victory marks Walker's return to the win column for the first time since May 2023, when he defeated Anthony Smith following impressive finishes over Paul Craig and Ion Cutelaba. With an updated record of 8-6 in the UFC—which includes one no contest and six knockouts—Walker expressed uncertainty about his next opponent. “I was really focused on this Chinese guy,” he stated. “I don’t even look at the ranking. I don’t care how the ranking is happening. Whatever the matchmakers do, I accept.”
