After KO Loss, Johnny Walker Hopes Magomed Ankalaev ‘Gets the Belt Now’

Johnny Walker appears to be in good spirits following his knockout loss to Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC Fight Night 234 main event.

After their first meeting at UFC 294 ended in a no contest, Ankalaev left no doubt in the rematch, rendering Walker unconscious with a right hook and follow-up right uppercut 2:42 into Round 2 of their light heavyweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Walker recently took to social media to release a statement on the defeat, offering support for his opponent’s title hopes in the process.

“I’m good, just a little scratch on my nose. I’m going to watch my fight and see what mistakes I did later on. … It is what it is,” Walker said. “We fight the best in the world. I’m one of the best in the world and I’m going to face the best in the world. It could be me, could be him. So he had a better night than me, and congratulations to him, Magomed Ankalaev. Hope he gets the belt now and I’m going to keep grinding, keep going forward, and keep going upwards.”

Walker entered UFC Fight Night 234 on a four-fight unbeaten streak that included victories over Anthony Smith, Paul Craig and Ion Cutelaba. The 31-year-old Brazilian is 7-5 with one no contest over the course of a promotional tenure that began in 2018.

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