“Another day, another dollar” is how Johnny Walker put his UFC Vegas 124 main event showdown with Waldo Cortes-Acosta this week.
The fight arrives on this Saturday at the Meta Apex, and is Walker’s second showing at heavyweight in the UFC. His debut against Mick Parkin came not long ago, and ended in a finish. Now, Walker gets a fighter who, prior to a few setbacks, was in title contention recently.
“That’s a really good opportunity for me,” noted Walker (23-10, 1NC) during this week’s media day. “Fighting a guy that caliber, it’s a big test. I pass through that, I’m just going to show that I belong to the heavyweight division.”
Later, he’d noted that “I had a good debut in heavyweight. I’m a veteran right now. This is going to be my 18th fight in the UFC. I was born for this. I’m ready. Why not?”
How you prepare for a larger opponent like Waldo Cortes-Acosta, who has consistently weighed in right around 265 pounds, and who’s fought some of the best in the heavyweight division, is a question. Yet asked about his game plan, Johnny Walker suggested he didn’t really have one.
“I never make a plan. I just get ready for the worst situation,” exclaimed Walker. “You think I planned to knock out Mick Parkin like that? I haven’t planned that. Just let it happen, you know? It’s more like instinct. You get ready, train, you sharpen you skills and everything, but the day of the fight, of course you follow a little bit, a game plan, but you can’t really predict 100% what’s going to happen. You just have to have sharp reactions. And then build the knockout or the finish.”
Walker ended Mick Parkin’s night at UFC 332 last month with a massive knee strike. Quite the explosive reaction. He’ll look to find similar success against Cortes-Acosta at the Meta Apex this Saturday, November 7.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 124 media day appearance with Johnny Walker above.