Will Johnny Walker Have his Israel Adesanya Moment at UFC 244?

Will Johnny Walker Have his Israel Adesanya Moment at UFC 244?

By Jack Maher

The last time the UFC held an event in Madison Square Garden, the card was headlined by a heavyweight title fight between a pound-for-pound star and a fan favourite, but it was a skinny middleweight from New Zealand who made the headlines that night.

Israel Adesanya had made quite the impression on the UFC fanbase, debuting in the organisation earlier that year, looking impressive in all three of his UFC wins, but some questions still remained.

Adesanya was faced with the challenge of what was on paper the biggest test of his MMA career to date, in the form of perennial contender Derek Brunson. Brunson was a NCAA Division II wrestler, and many fans speculated that Brunson’s wrestling ability would prove too much for the flashy striker.

Adesanya stole the show against Brunson. After surving the American’s takedown attempts, managing to keep the fight standing, Adesanya turned up the gas with less than a minute left of the first round, and launched a brilliant assault on his rival, knocking Brunson down several times, looking calm and calculated with every punch, knee and kick threw. With ten seconds left of the round, it was over, and Adesanya went from prospect to serious contender in the eyes of the fans.

This Saturday the UFC returns to Madison Square Garden, and light heavyweight wrecking machine Johnny Walker finds himself in a similar situation to what Adesanya was in this time last year.

Making an explosive start to his UFC career, Walker has three bonus-winning first round knockouts in three UFC fights. The Brazilian wild man looks dangerous with every strike he throws, and fans are certainly excited, but questions remain over whether he will be able to keep these performances up against the worlds best light heavyweights.

Walker will face what is on paper by far his toughest test to date, in the form of Corey Anderson. Like Brunson, Anderson is a very capable wrestler, and at one point was a NCAA Division III wrestler. Like Adesanya before the Brunson fight, Walker is yet to have his grappling truly put to the test by a high level wrestler inside the UFC.

Anderson has fought in the famous arena before, losing too Ovince Saint Preux by a headkick knockout in the third round. Since then, Anderson has improved and rebounded, and now finds himself on a three-fight win streak, chasing down a title shot. If he can put the brakes on a prospect as hot as Walker, he might finally get the shot he’s been waiting for.

If Walker looks comfortable in the grappling exchanges, manages to keep the fight where he wants it, and adds another impressive stoppage to his ever growing highlight reel on the biggest stage in combat sports, then he too will go from prospect too a serious contender.