What’s Next For Johnny Walker?

There could be a rematch with Nikita Krylov. The two first fought in 2020, with Krylov winning by a unanimous decision. However, both fighters have evolved since then. Walker’s performance against Zhang showed a willingness to mix up his striking and grappling. A rematch with Krylov, who is a well-rounded fighter with a strong ground game and knockout power, would be a great test.  Krylov is also not in the best form, having lost two of his last fights, while he has three wins out of seven since beating Walker. 

Other Options

Another potential opponent for Walker is a top name. One example is Khalil Rountree Jr., who is an explosive striker with a dangerous knockout power. Rountree’s fighting style is similar to Walker’s. Walker and Rountree have a history, with Walker winning their first bout in 2018. A rematch would be a great way to see how much both fighters have improved since then. Rountree had an incredible run recently, winning five on the spin before Alex Pereira stopped him. However, Rountree bounced back with a win over Jamahal Hill in his last fight. 

Elsewhere, there could be a fight with Dominick Reyes. Reyes, who once challenged Jon Jones for the title, is currently on a losing streak. A win over Walker would be a massive step toward a career resurgence for Reyes, and a win for Walker would be a great way to add a big name to his resume.

A potential matchup against former champion Jan Blachowicz could also be intriguing, as it would pit Walker’s wild, unpredictable style against Blachowicz’s methodical, powerful striking. After his Mingyang win, Walker did call out Jan Blachowicz.

“Training is training, fight is fight. My kick is awesome, right? Now is the definition of the title fight run. I want to see the legendary Polish power [Jan Blachowicz next],” Walker said