Johnny Walker Rejects Brother Fight In UFC

Johnny Walker has ruled out ever sharing the octagon with his half-brother Valter Walker, no matter how high both climb in the heavyweight division.

The Brazilian steps in on short notice Saturday against Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Vegas 124, riding momentum from his October debut at heavyweight where a flying knee flattened Mick Parkin. Valter sits on a different trajectory — five straight wins, all by first-round tapout. When MMA Fighting posed the question of a future matchup between the siblings, Johnny dismissed it outright.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC Fight Night: Cortes-Acosta vs Walker on Ticketmaster →

Walker On Fighting His Half-Brother

"I'm not that crazy," Walker told the outlet, explaining that the violence required in the cage makes it unthinkable against family. He added that stepping into a fight means operating on pure aggression, ripping into an opponent without thinking about their personal life, but applying that mentality to a blood relative crosses a line he won't approach.

The two have shared training sessions in Russia previously, though Johnny said their relationship carries complications. He pointed to Valter's tendency toward jokes and behavior that have upset their mother and Johnny's wife, creating friction that keeps them at arm's length. Johnny framed it as a maturity issue tied to Valter being 28, expressing hope his brother will grow out of the phase by 30.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC Fight Night: Cortes-Acosta vs Walker on Ticketmaster →

Walker offered an open invitation for Valter to join him in Las Vegas during future camps, but made clear his wife has banned the younger brother from their home. Training sessions are welcome; overnight stays require a hotel. The brothers remain in contact despite the tension, with Johnny accepting Valter as he is while wishing for change down the road.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Would Johnny Walker fight brother Valter Walker in the UFC? ‘I’m not that crazy’