Johnny Walker hade hoppats på ett stående krig mot Nikita Krylov vid helgens UFC Brasilia. Det slutade med att han blev nerbrottad och besegrad via enhälligt domslut.
Walker är dock inte lika besviken efter matchen som en hade kunnat tro. Brassen berättade enligt MMA Fighting efter matchen att han nöjd att han klarade att hålla ut i tre ronder:
I’m happy – I fought three rounds- It was good for me. Fighting three rounds in the biggest promotion in the world, at UFC level, was great for me. That helped me evolve as an athlete and see where I need to work on.
Helgens match var brassen första sedan han gått med i Tristar Gym i Kanada och börjat träna under Firas Zahabi. Förlusten var var Walkers andra i rad efter att knockats av Corey Anderson i november. Brassen kommer nu att återvända till träningslägret i Kanada:
Firas has a lot to teach me; I have a lot to learn and evolve with him. I’ll get back there, train and come back much stronger.
I’m 27 and got in the UFC a little over a year ago, so it’s just the beginning for me. It’s all experience. It’s all very new for me. I have a lot to learn. I still know nothing. (This fight) taught me a lot, so I’m happy. I gave my best, fought hard, gained experience and will come back stronger next time.
Walker medger att han kommer behöva bättra på sin uthållighet och brottning:
He put a lot of pressure, I even defended some takedowns, but I don’t know what happened because I got tired. I have good cardio. I don’t know what happened…if it was the weather. I don’t want to give excuses, but I got tired. I train a lot. I don’t go out partying, I do the right diet. When I’m in camp and go from home to the gym and back. So it’s about training more.
Nikita put a lot of pressure on the wrestling, where I need to get better, too, my defense. He didn’t want to trade with me, and I knew that. But two get in and one gets out. I have to be prepared to win or lose. I went there ready for death, I gave my best. I couldn’t do anything anymore, but I was there, fighting. I gave the best I could. Now it’s time to go back tot he gym and train more. I’m happy I fought three rounds. I vomited a lot after the fight, I felt ill. That’s really good, I felt alive.
Walker har nu 17-5 i professionellt record.
