Johnny Walker reveals exactly what health issues he faced in UFC light heavyweight weight cuts
Johnny Walker has provided MMA fans with an insight into his worrisome weight cuts to 205 pounds in the UFC.
Johnny Walker has opened up about the health issues he faced during his lengthy stint in the light heavyweight (205-pound) weight class as a professional MMA fighter.
The 6'5" Brazilian athlete had long been advised by a number of fans to return to the heavyweight division, where he did compete a few times back in his pre-UFC days.
Here in September of 2026, Walker is just days away from his return to the 265-pound division. It'll mark the first time he competes at heavyweight under the UFC promotional banner.
Johnny Walker highlights the worrisome health issues he faced in his weight cuts to the UFC light heavyweight division
Speaking to MMA Fighting's Jose Youngs, Johnny Walker shed light on the pitfalls of extreme weight cutting, particularly his personal experiences of being afflicted by health issues due to his grueling cuts to light heavyweight.
Walker suggested that going into fight week as a heavyweight, without having to worry about the weight cut and physically deplete himself, is a good but "weird" feeling. The 34-year-old spoke about having suffered while cutting down to light heavyweight, especially facing problems such as dizziness, his vision going dark, and more.
Suggesting that his training camp is now about focusing on fight technique and miscellaneous preparations rather than centered around cutting weight, Walker stated, "When I was light heavyweight, one month before the fight, last three weeks, when you have to train, I couldn't. I have, like, you know, when you feel everything dark."
He seemingly recalled asking his sparring partners to stop mid-session as his vision would go dark due to his being physically diminished by the weight cut. He said, "It's not my heart. It's not my breath. It's just everything is getting dark. Like, zoom... Dizzy."
The veteran combatant indicated that he can now train without those issues affecting him in camp, signaling that he's healthy and strong enough to spar with anyone.
Johnny Walker talks glycogen levels, being a big fighter ahead of Mick Parkin fight at UFC 332
Johnny Walker seemed to suggest that he was a heavyweight who was putting himself through unnecessary physical and overall trauma by cutting weight. He further emphasized that he isn't worried about facing big heavyweights like Mick Parkin in his new weight class, as he is himself a big individual.
Speaking about his optimal glycogen levels, he noted, "I do the strategy, the technique now. Nothing hurts. Nothing depleted, you know, without glycogen. I have full glycogen in my body."
Presently, Walker is booked to take on England's Mick Parkin in a heavyweight showdown at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 3. The Brazilian is coming off a split decision defeat against Dominick Reyes earlier this year. Meanwhile, Parkin's latest Octagon appearance saw him suffer his first MMA loss, as he was outpointed by Marcin Tybura last year.
Watch Johnny Walker discuss his weight cut-induced health issues below:
Johnny Walker is thriving at heavyweight during #UFC332 fight week: ", in the middle of a spar, I would have to wait. It's not my heart or my breath. Everything would get dark and dizzy. ā¦ I was a heavyweight cutting to 205." (š„ @JoseYoungs) https://t.co/Vk8p8hIQSl
ā MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 30, 2026
