Johnny Walker On Brother's Vulgar Comments

Johnny Walker says vulgar social media posts by his younger brother Valter have created a family rift that kept the submission specialist out of his corner for last weekend's Apex main event.

The 2-0 heavyweight told Ariel Helwani that Valter posted crude remarks online about their mother and Walker's wife, crossing a line that has not yet been repaired. The friction dates back to Walker's fight against Zhang Mingyang, according to BJPenn.com. Valter, who rides a five-fight winning streak built on four consecutive heel hook finishes, allegedly made profane comments about their religious mother and suggested Walker's wife would be unfaithful if he lost in China.

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Walker Opens Up On Strained Family Ties

"I know he's an idiot," Walker said on The Ariel Helwani Show, calling Valter's humor misguided but expressing hope for reconciliation. Walker added that his wife has barred Valter from their Las Vegas home and that he does not know when forgiveness will come from either his mother or his spouse.

Walker ruled out ever fighting his brother professionally despite the tension. Valter has not addressed the comments publicly and remains idle since his July stoppage of Thomas Petersen at UFC Abu Dhabi. Walker defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta last Saturday, extending his heavyweight run after a knockout debut against Mick Parkin at UFC 332 earlier this year.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Johnny Walker opens up on complicated relationship with ‘idiot’ UFC heavyweight brother