The unexpected has happened in the world of mixed martial arts. Johnny Walker, a former teammate of Conor McGregor, appears to have switched allegiances. And the shocking part is that he has found his new home in none other than the Irishman’s bitter rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s gym.
Walker is a Brazilian light heavyweight fighter known for his flashy knockout power and eccentric personality. He has been training at McGregor’s Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Ireland since 2020 under the guidance of renowned coach John Kavanagh. Walker initially found success, scoring an impressive TKO victory over Ryan Spann in his first fight after joining the camp.
However, Walker hasn’t had smooth sailing since then. Despite his potential and undeniable talent, the Brazilian fighter has struggled to find consistency in the Octagon. Walker’s career seemed to be at a crossroads, with only three wins in his last eight fights. It appears he has chosen a new direction – one that leads straight to the gym of Conor McGregor’s most bitter rival.
Images and videos circulating online show Walker training at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). This is home to Khabib Nurmagomedov and a stable of championship-caliber fighters, including Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov. Moreover, Walker has been contemplating a move to the heavyweight division. Training with the Dagestani ground game masters may be one of the best things the Brazilian could do for his career at this stage.
Fight Fans Reacted To Johnny Walker’s Move To Khabib Nurmagomedov’s AKA
The MMA community was thrown for a loop when images of Johnny Walker training at the American Kickboxing Academy surfaced. This unexpected move from McGregor’s gym to Nurmagomedov’s AKA has set tongues wagging and keyboards clacking across social media platforms.
Fight fans took to social media to showcase their reactions to this unexpected incident. Some fans were very intrigued by this gym’s change from McGregor’s to Nurmagomedov’s for the Brazilian fighter. Others joined 2 and 2 to formulate that Walker was now trying to focus on his ground game, given his chin wasn’t the same as before. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:
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Only time will tell how this change will impact Walker’s performance in the Octagon. But one thing is certain: fans will watch his next fight with heightened interest. Will fans see a new, more ground-based Johnny Walker? Or will his signature flair of Conor McGregor’s gym find a way to shine through the AKA mold? That’s a question only time and patience can answer.
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