Walker Volunteers For UFC 334 Backup Role

Johnny Walker is willing to step into the cage on seven days' rest if the UFC needs him at Madison Square Garden.

The Brazilian heavyweight stopped Waldo Cortes-Acosta with a head kick and follow-up punches at UFC Vegas 124 on Saturday and told MMA Fighting afterward that he's available as backup for the Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit title fight at UFC 334 on Nov. 12. Walker, who took the Cortes-Acosta bout on eight days' notice to save the card after the Sean Brady vs. Gabriel Bonfim cancellation, said he's open to flying to New York for the assignment if the promotion covers his travel.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

Walker's Path After Finishing Cortes-Acosta

Walker became the first fighter to finish Cortes-Acosta in MMA when he floored the previously durable contender in the third round. Top-ranked heavyweights including Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes all went the distance with Cortes-Acosta in the octagon. "It just showed that I'm ready for anything," Walker said. "If someone drops out of the title fight next week or gets injured, they can put me in there too."

The Porrada Training Center fighter said he came through the Vegas bout without serious damage beyond facial swelling and sees Hokit as a favorable matchup if the title shot doesn't materialize. Walker believes Hokit's wrestling could trouble Gane but said the challenger's striking and grappling wouldn't pose major problems for him. "If he takes me down, I've got plenty of jiu-jitsu," he said. "I'd sweep him, I'd catch him on the ground. And if he wants to stand and trade, I'd knock him out too."

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

If the backup role falls through, Walker is targeting a return in February or March to notch one more win before pursuing the belt. Gane defends the heavyweight strap after knocking out Alex Pereira in June, while Hokit earned his shot by stopping Derrick Lewis at UFC White House the same night.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Johnny Walker open to 7-day turnaround, backup spot for Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit at UFC 334