Sports · Combat Sports · 5 hrs ago
Johnny Walker offers to back up UFC 334 heavyweight title fight
Johnny Walker has offered to step in at UFC 334 if either fighter in its main event cannot compete.
The event is scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, where Ciryl Gane is set to defend his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit.
Walker made the offer after stopping Waldo Cortes-Acosta last Saturday, his second straight win since moving up to heavyweight.
He says he was not badly hurt, though his face was swollen after taking punches.
A seven-day turnaround would be unusually quick, and Walker would need medical clearance before fighting again.
If he is not called in, he hopes to fight around February or March and says he could face Hokit if Hokit loses.
Whether Walker gets the chance remains uncertain, as the UFC may have other heavyweights available.
Johnny Walker has offered to serve as a backup for the UFC 334 heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit.
Walker says he is willing to fight on seven days’ notice if either scheduled fighter withdraws.
He made the offer after stopping Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the third round at UFC Vegas 124.
Walker said he did not suffer any injuries, though his face was swollen after taking punches.
If he does not get a UFC 334 call, Walker said he would ideally fight again around February or March.
- Who
- Johnny Walker has offered to back up Ciryl Gane or Josh Hokit.
- What
- Walker is willing to step in for the UFC 334 heavyweight title fight on seven days’ notice.
- When
- The fight is scheduled for Saturday; the articles were published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Madison Square Garden in New York City.
- Why
- Walker wants the opportunity to fight for the title and keep his momentum going.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Walker’s split-decision loss to Dominick Reyes marked the end of his light-heavyweight venture.
Walker knocked out Mick Parkin with a first-round knee in his heavyweight debut.
Walker stopped Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the third round at UFC Vegas 124.
Articles reported Walker’s offer to back up the UFC 334 title fight.
- UFC event
- UFC 334
- Scheduled title fight
- Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit
- Venue
- Madison Square Garden, New York City
- Walker’s latest fight
- Third-round stoppage of Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Walker’s proposed turnaround
- Seven days
3 sources
What people are saying
If they need someone to step in, I’m here
I didn’t get hurt too badly, no. My face is just a little swollen because I ate a lot of punches, right?
If it’s for the title, I’ll do something crazy and fight [next week] anyway
Hokit could be an option, right? If Hokit loses, that would be a wonderful scenario for me, because I could already fight him.
Posts on X
Johnny Walker — who just got a KNOCKOUT win LAST NIGHT – says his phone is on if the #UFC needs a backup fighter for the #UFC334 headline between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit 👀 💰 🚨 🎥 @guicruzzz