- 2 years ago
Johnny Walker on his light heavyweight Vegas rematch with Ankalaev
Johnny Walker (21-7 1NC, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) aims to display a highlight-reel finish against Ankalaev
No. 7 ranked UFC light heavyweight
16 wins by knockout, two via submission
17 first-round finishes
Johnny Walker (21-7 1NC, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) aims to display a highlight-reel finish against Ankalaev
No. 7 ranked UFC light heavyweight
16 wins by knockout, two via submission
17 first-round finishes
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
00:02 It's just water.
00:12 [INAUDIBLE]
00:14 And vodka.
00:15 So welcome back.
00:21 I guess I just want to ask first if you can give me
00:23 some thoughts on the last time that you were fighting Magaben.
00:27 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
00:31 Some thoughts, right?
00:34 Very upsetting.
00:36 The fight was--
00:37 I was liking and enjoying the fight.
00:39 And I was landing my shots, picking my shots.
00:42 I was like seeing what's going to land, what's not going to--
00:45 I was feeling the fight and enjoying, you know?
00:47 And then he hit me on my belly.
00:51 Then I fake a little--
00:53 then a few--
00:54 I risk the flying knee for--
00:55 I risk I take the result like I miss.
00:57 And then he caught me, put me down because of--
01:01 he caught me when I was flying.
01:04 And then he put in a really good position on the floor.
01:07 He was holding my hand.
01:08 I was very locked up.
01:09 He was on top of me.
01:11 And with technique, I release everything.
01:14 And I was standing up.
01:15 I think he get dispirited, you know, because I was standing up
01:17 and he was getting a little bit trouble when I was standing up.
01:22 And I may took him down after, you know, because I was standing.
01:25 But he couldn't wait for one second, you know?
01:27 I think he get dispirited and just land the knee.
01:29 I want to finish this fight now because I don't want these guys back up.
01:32 And then he landed a legal knee on my face.
01:37 I was probably 100% intentional because you never throw nothing
01:41 without intention when you fight, you know what I mean?
01:44 And then the referee come, the doctor comes.
01:46 And as I said on the other interviews, like, we are fighters.
01:50 Very tough.
01:51 We don't care if you broke an arm, if you get punched in the face,
01:54 if you're bleeding.
01:54 We want to keep fighting, moving forward, whatever.
01:57 I want to keep fighting.
01:58 It's what I want to do back on that fight.
02:00 I want to-- no, let me fight, let me fight.
02:03 Because a lot of investment, a lot of good, good,
02:05 quality time that you lost with your family, with your--
02:07 you know, a lot of commitment and discipline
02:09 that you put so much hard work for that moment.
02:12 And I was thinking about the fight's going to be no result.
02:15 We're going to be disqualified or whatever going to happen.
02:17 I don't want this.
02:18 But the doctor and the referee have to come back.
02:20 And he have to take a smart decision for you.
02:23 Because we're never going to take a smart decision.
02:25 We always want to fight.
02:26 Fight doesn't matter.
02:27 I'm bleeding.
02:28 I'm cutting.
02:29 No, no, no, let me fight.
02:30 Because we are fighters.
02:31 But I'm glad today, because when I look back,
02:36 I saw like after the fight, one week after the fight,
02:38 I feel my neck locked up.
02:40 I feel my collarbone a little bit inflamed
02:42 and look like it was broke, but it wasn't.
02:44 Just like swollen, you know?
02:47 So I received a big impact on my jaw.
02:51 And it's like a car crash.
02:53 And if I come back to the fight, I know I'm OK, I'm OK.
02:56 Maybe I will-- maybe not 100%.
02:59 I'm going to be in disadvantage, because I absorb all
03:01 of the energy already, you know?
03:03 But we don't feel, because we're tough
03:05 and we want to keep going fighting.
03:06 So I'm glad that the doctor and the referee
03:08 took the smart decision for me on that time.
03:12 But I'm not really happy, because he
03:14 should be punished more serious.
03:18 Because if you never punish somebody
03:20 when they do something against the rules,
03:23 you're going to keep doing, you know?
03:25 And if you're going to fight without rules,
03:27 take all of the rules out.
03:28 It's OK.
03:29 Now we're going to soccer kick.
03:30 We're going to punch in the back of the head, whatever it takes.
03:33 Because now I'm going to be ready for everything.
03:36 I wasn't ready for that knee, because I
03:38 know he could not give me a knee on the face,
03:40 because I was in that position.
03:43 So if you have rules, you respect.
03:44 If you don't have rules, I'm going
03:45 to be ready, because I wasn't ready for that.
03:47 So it's not fair, you know?
03:49 It sounds like you're saying that the doctor maybe
03:52 made the right call.
03:53 In the moment, I think a lot of fans
03:55 were really upset with that doctor for that
03:57 and other things that happened that night.
03:58 Do you feel like maybe the fans didn't
04:00 give the doctor the benefit of the doubt?
04:02 Or do you feel like that was, in the moment,
04:06 the right response from the fans?
04:10 As I said, the doctor is there to have
04:12 the smart decision for us, because we don't
04:13 want to think properly.
04:15 We want to fight, you know?
04:17 If I could keep going, I'm going to be in disadvantage,
04:19 because I feel one week after the fight, a lot of my neck
04:23 was locked.
04:24 I couldn't really move, you know?
04:25 Because I absorbed all of the energy for the knee on my jaw.
04:28 Like, one of the time, because of the adrenaline,
04:30 I didn't feel that.
04:31 So I think the fans should understand a little bit,
04:34 because at the end of the day, we're just humans, you know?
04:38 We're there to put the show on for the sport.
04:41 And we have to look after ourselves as well.
04:44 But we are fighters.
04:45 We're never going to look after ourselves.
04:47 We want to fight whatever it takes, you know?
04:49 Are you worried that something might happen again
04:51 where he breaks another rule?
04:52 Is that something that you have to think about and prepare
04:54 for now, going into the second fight?
04:56 Not really.
04:57 I'm worried about nothing.
04:59 I have no emotion.
05:00 I have no hate against him.
05:03 I'm going to go there, because emotion maybe
05:05 can play against you if you put it like hate or emotion.
05:10 Maybe you are going to make a mistake.
05:11 No, I'm going to be very technical, very aggressive,
05:15 right moment, without emotion, like a robot, like a machine.
05:18 Because this is how it has to be,
05:22 to don't commit mistakes, you know?
05:25 Have the two of you talked since that first fight?
05:28 I met him last week on PVFPI.
05:31 It was OK, you know?
05:32 Just say the winner here is going to be the next champ.
05:35 And then, no, I'm going to be the next champ.
05:36 I'm going to be the next champ.
05:37 So that's it.
05:38 Just a fun, playful banter.
05:40 There's no real hatred between the two of you?
05:42 Yes.
05:43 So what did you learn in that first fight
05:46 that maybe you weren't aware of, besides, obviously, the knee?
05:50 But is there anything that surprised you
05:52 in those moments that you were able to share
05:54 with him that first fight?
05:55 I feel-- I have a little bit of experience.
05:59 I feel his power.
06:00 I feel his technique.
06:01 So I know what I'm doing this time now.
06:04 I know I can release any technique that they put on me.
06:08 I know I'm stronger than him.
06:11 So it was a good feeling for his body,
06:13 of the fight, of the distance, you know?
06:17 So it was make me better fighter for this fight
06:20 and more ready this time as well.
06:23 And you don't have to tell us the game plan, obviously.
06:25 But is it different than your first fight, you think?
06:27 You're going to have a different game plan?
06:30 The thing is, we prepare for the fight
06:33 because we watch his fights.
06:35 We know his part there and what he like to do.
06:37 So we simulate this for, like, many months, many weeks,
06:40 a lot of sparring.
06:41 So I'm ready for whatever he try to do.
06:44 If he take me down, if he tries to strike,
06:48 like, I know his part there and what he's going to try to use
06:51 against me.
06:51 But I just--
06:53 I'm ready.
06:53 Nothing change much.
06:55 Just prepare for the worst, you know?
06:58 And then I'm ready.
07:00 And maybe I put him down as well because you never saw him
07:05 with his back on the floor, you know, what his behavior is.
07:08 And I'm going to put pressure on him.
07:11 Are you expecting to have to go the full five rounds with him?
07:14 Or you think you'll be able to get in and out pretty quick?
07:16 I'm 100% sure if any of my good shot land, he going to slip.
07:22 If I get his back, I'm going to make his slip, too.
07:24 I'm going to choke him.
07:25 So I always try to push and get the best of myself
07:32 and to finish the fight as well.
07:34 Like, I don't like the referee decide the fight for me.
07:37 It's so much hard work to somebody
07:39 maybe take a wrong decision, you know?
07:42 For me now, he have a little bit more points on this--
07:45 a little bit more point there.
07:46 So I lose.
07:47 No, I want to make sure that I have the fight on my hands.
07:49 So I'm going to do my best till I finish the fight.
07:53 Are you more excited that this rematch is here in Vegas,
07:56 you know, in a smaller arena that's a little bit more
07:59 private and more dialed in?
08:01 Or are you kind of disappointed that you
08:03 couldn't have the rematch with a big crowd?
08:07 Yeah, I would like to--
08:08 I like to fight for the crown, you know?
08:10 But I'm happy that I'm here in Vegas, at least,
08:12 because the last fight, he have all of the crown behind him
08:15 because it was on the Muslim country, you know?
08:18 I have nothing against the Muslim.
08:19 They're going to share for their own people, you know?
08:22 But I have a lot of Muslim followers and fans as well.
08:26 But he is more neutral, you know?
08:29 And I think I have the fans on my sides now.
08:34 And I'm more excited to hit you because this fight is going
08:39 to be very-- it's a very important fight for both of us.
08:42 And I'm glad that you fight on the Apex as well
08:45 because we can hear more of the coaches if you need, you know?
08:48 And it's going to be more, like, effective for both of us.
08:51 Like, we're going to be more focused on the fight.
08:53 Not many crowns, not many distractions around.
08:56 You already mentioned it's an important fight for you.
08:58 But is it also important because it's
09:00 the first fight of the year and it kind of sets
09:02 the tone for the rest of the year?
09:04 Is there any pressure that you start the year out right?
09:07 I have never feel no pressure with nothing in life.
09:12 And it's just one more day in the jungle for me.
09:17 Last one for me.
09:19 Did you make any New Year's resolutions or any goals
09:21 for this year that you can share with us?
09:23 Yeah, 100%.
09:24 I want this year to be the better year than the 2023.
09:27 It was a great year for me.
09:28 If he's 1% better, I'm already game, you know?
09:32 I'm already winner.
09:33 So I hopefully finish this year as a champion.
09:36 And I'm excited, too, because my brother's
09:39 going to do his first debut on April 6.
09:42 So I'm probably going to come back here to help him.
09:44 Maybe I'll go to Russia to help him as well.
09:46 So I'm very excited for me, for my family, for my legacy.
09:50 Hey, Johnny.
09:51 I was going to ask you about your brother.
09:53 How excited were you to know that he--
09:55 I mean, he got signed last year, but now that he
09:57 has his first UFC book, how exciting is that?
10:00 I was very excited.
10:01 My little brother, I put him on this path.
10:07 I brought him from Brazil.
10:08 I think it was 2018 or '17 to South Hampton.
10:15 He lived with me there.
10:16 I started training there.
10:17 He did a little bit amateur, some Muay Thai, boxing stuff.
10:21 But he started getting really serious training
10:24 when I brought him there.
10:26 And I'm really glad, because I give this opportunity.
10:28 He loved this career.
10:29 He loved his life now that he's carrying a path.
10:33 He live in Russia now.
10:34 He's a big, grown man.
10:36 I'm proud of him.
10:38 All of the hard work he put on, he have a lot of fights.
10:41 He 11-0 undefeated, heavyweight, 26 years old.
10:45 So have a bright future towards him.
10:48 And I'm really proud that he's carried the Walker Legacy name.
10:53 Do you hope to fight on the same card as him?
10:55 Or would you be too nervous to fight on the same card as him?
10:58 I'm never going to be nervous for nothing.
11:00 And it's going to be really fun if we fight the same card.
11:02 We can celebrate together.
11:04 And then with this fight on Saturday,
11:06 are you viewing it as a number one contender fight?
11:09 Like, you go out there and finish Magomed.
11:12 Do you fight Alex Pereira for the title next?
11:14 100%.
11:16 I'm sure Alcalive is the toughest guy now in the division.
11:20 So this fight's going to decide who's
11:23 going to be the next champion, me.
11:26 And then finally for me, in Abu Dhabi,
11:29 the doctors didn't know that you were talking about the desert
11:32 when you said that you were in the desert.
11:35 Do you think the Las Vegas doctor
11:36 will understand that you're in the desert
11:39 here instead of Abu Dhabi?
11:40 100%.
11:41 It's really cold right now.
11:43 But yeah, we're still in the desert, Nevada desert.
11:45 Thank you, Johnny, for taking the time.
11:50 Just to talk about the rematches.
11:52 We don't see you in part twos that often.
11:56 With it being a rematch, is there
11:58 any different preparation for someone
12:00 you kind of already know?
12:01 Or does your team tweak a couple of things and say,
12:03 you know what?
12:04 We missed this last time.
12:05 This is perfect.
12:06 Now we can really get a perfect game plan for you.
12:10 I think the difference is I have a little bit injury
12:14 for the last fight.
12:15 And I wasn't really confident.
12:17 So now I'm 100% healthy.
12:19 And I'm going to do better.
12:22 The game plan, I wasn't really follow much.
12:26 Like I was trying to--
12:27 I was follow a little bit, but it wasn't very effective.
12:31 So now I have to do step by step and follow really the game
12:34 plan, do what you've been training for.
12:36 And it's going to work really well,
12:38 because now I'm more confident and more healthy.
12:40 And I'm more explosive.
12:41 And my condition is great.
12:43 And a lot of time to prepare for this fight.
12:46 I have kind of two camps training,
12:47 two camps in training to beat one guy.
12:49 So it's going to be great.
12:51 Do you feel-- you mentioned the crowd.
12:53 Everybody loves the crowd.
12:55 But is there any comfort from coming to Vegas,
12:58 kind of like a home, away from home?
12:59 You've been at the Apex.
13:00 You've been on the poster.
13:01 Does that feel a little good to be the main event guy?
13:04 Yeah, it feels better than the Middle East,
13:07 because it was far away from home, way different time zone
13:11 as well.
13:12 And I've been here already.
13:13 I fought here in the Apex.
13:16 I like Vegas.
13:17 I like the way I adapt really quickly.
13:20 And I think it's going to be a better advantage for me
13:23 this time.
13:25 And speaking of advantages, how do you separate
13:27 your emotion in this one?
13:28 Because I know you wanted the rematch to make this right,
13:31 to justify the first one.
13:33 You just kind of forget about it.
13:34 But how do you keep--
13:36 just focus, really, to not want revenge so bad
13:39 and be able to beat Johnny Walker on Saturday?
13:41 It's very simple.
13:42 It's just something that I do.
13:43 I just do.
13:44 I separate.
13:44 I don't let the--
13:45 I control my feelings.
13:47 I don't let this affect me.
13:48 It's very simple.
13:49 Everyone can do this.
13:50 But people think it's difficult.
13:53 Nothing is difficult. You just go and do.
13:55 I separate my feelings, and I feel nothing.
13:57 I'm like there for a machine.
13:58 I'm very professional.
13:59 I do my best, you know?
14:01 And I don't let nothing affect me.
14:04 I appreciate it.
14:04 In the cage of fighting machine, outside dancing machine
14:07 when you do the celebrations, no color dye this time, right?
14:10 Is it a little more serious in Vegas?
14:11 No bright yellow?
14:15 Life-- you don't have to take life too serious, my friend.
14:17 You know?
14:18 You have to have fun, always, and be happy.
14:21 This is the most important thing, you know?
14:23 Keep yourself positive, you know?
14:26 And walk towards the light.
14:28 Excellent.
14:29 Well, welcome back.
14:30 Let's have fun.
14:30 Can't wait to see you on Saturday.
14:32 Thank you very much.
14:32 Thank you, sir.
14:35 That's it.
14:36 All right.
14:37 Thank you very much, guys.
14:38 Thank you.
14:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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