It was expected that things would play otherwise for a UFC community service who once told Jon Jones in the Octagon.
Jones, the current UFC Heavyweight Champion, entered 2019 with the light heavyweight gold back in his possession.
On UFC 232, Jones Alexander Gustafsson spread to win the then vacant crown on 205 pounds, starting with what would eventually be his last reign in the weight class.
A few months later, Jones Anthony Smith unilaterally defeated UFC 235, who caused discussion about who could possibly hold a candle to the resident of Rochester in the light heavyweight division.
At the time, one of the leading names in that debate was another big winner at UFC 235.
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Johnny Walker disrupted his shoulder and celebrated the victory over Jones-Headlined UFC 235 card
Before Jones took the walk to defend his title against 'Lionheart', the attention in the light heavyweight class was on the latest assignment for Johnny Walker.
The flashy and charismatic striker entered the event on an eight-fighter win racing with a perfect 2-0 UFC record. Walker's brutal elbow knockout against Khalil rountree and 15 seconds finish versus Justin Ledet put him firmly on the fans' radar.
And the Brazilian builder had the crowd back on his feet in his third Octagon performance, when Walker Misha Cirkunov faded with a flying knee in less than a minute at UFC 235.
However, the larger point of discussion that would come from the fight was Walker's eyebrow increases.
After the interruption, Walker tried to carry out the 'worm' dance movement, but as he hit the ground, the resident of Rio de Janeiro disrupted his shoulder.
Walker's pain while he went backstage was probably demolished when he received a third consecutive $ 50,000 performance bonus from UFC President Dana White.
Former UFC champion praised Johnny Walker to give Jon Jones problems
The bizarre injury only helped to increase the familiarity of Walker and did little to prevent many from predicting big things for him in the UFC.
Among the admirers of the Brazilian was former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who suggested that Walker was the “biggest threat” for Jones during his podcast of Believe You Me.
“I think the biggest threat is now for Jones Johnny Walker,” said Bisping. “I think Johnny Walker gives him a lot of problems, but I understand it from the perspective of Jones. He is still not known enough for the average MMA fan.
“He has had a big splash, he has achieved a few big victories in all, very fast time. And in fact he is now injured because he injured himself with his post-fighter celebration. That is the most damage he absorbs in his battles, in his own F-King parties.”
Unfortunately, things have played much differently than predicted for Walker.
Since the elimination of Cirkunov, the 33-year-old has lost six of the 11 fights, including brutal knockout defeats against Corey Anderson, Jamahal Hill and Magomed Ankalaev.
In his most recent fight, Walker was again made unconscious, this time by Volkan Oezdemir. The Brazilian is now Winloos in his three fights since May 2023.