UFC 244 was a wakeup call for Johnny Walker.
Walker (17-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) went into his pivotal light heavyweight bout with Corey Anderson as the betting favorite and was taken out in the first round before he ever got a chance to get started.
In an outcome few saw coming, an angry Anderson dropped Walker with a big overhand right and swarmed him until referee Kevin MacDonald pulled him away. It was a learning lesson for Walker, who stormed into the UFC with three wins in a row – and three straight first-round knockouts.
Speaking to TMZ, Walker chalked up the loss due to being too tentative.
“Just one little mistake, I hold too much myself,” Walker said. “I wait too much, I think too much. It’s not going to happen again. It’s not lose, just one lesson, and then I learn.”
Walker, who has fought three times in 2019, says he didn’t suffer too much damage, and hopes to make a quick turnaround, appearing again early next year.
“I have 45 days just because my eyes, but my eye’s OK, so I’ll be back maybe in January or February,” Walker said.
“I’m good, I’m ready to go again. I’m going to fight soon as soon as possible.”
Walker was in a race for the next light heavyweight title shot at champion Jon Jones, but that will have to wait for the 27-year-old, who vows to come back stronger.
