See how the MMA community reacted to Johnny Walker starting off the main card of UFC 283 by clocking Paul Craig with hard shots en route to a first-round finish.
In front of his home country of Brazil, Johnny Walker made a statement at UFC 283, claiming that the light heavyweight division is his following his first-round victory over Paul Craig.
After some trading by both men during the first round, things quickly came to an end in a few minutes. Walker landed a body kick and followed it up with several right hands. Craig grabbed the leg, intending to go for a takedown, but that resulted in Walker blasting him with several hammerfists, rocking Craig further until the referee stepped in.
Walker has now won back-to-back fights for the first time since 2019.
UFC 283: Twitter reacts to Johnny Walker vs. Paul Craig
Johnny Walker after that KO #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/Y4WkctiWeK
— Kairos (@KAIROSMMA2) January 22, 2023
Johnny Walker doing Johnny Walker shit in a fight.
— MMAHaven (@TheMMAHaven) January 22, 2023
New hairstyle Walker is a mythical fighter. pic.twitter.com/RKFiHGcWon
You’ve gotta respect Johnny Walker doubling down on the worm after it quite literally derailed his entire career #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/a09LnyaJsG
— Noah Gagnon (@noahgagnon_) January 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/ThaWeasle/status/1617000476696018944
Johnny Walker 10 minutes after his win pic.twitter.com/moCFhAjS19
— Heavyweight Thanos (@MMAThanos) January 22, 2023
*Johnny Walker loses a year of his career after hurting himself doing the worm*
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) January 22, 2023
Johnny Walker: #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/BH1rAVdGsj
JOHNNY WALKER! https://t.co/IVzHjpR4tf
— Talkin Hands (@TalkinHands101) January 22, 2023
JOHNNY WALKER 🔥🔥🔥 #UFC283 https://t.co/zOhPKiL5FJ
— Josh Dorsey (@J_Dorsey3) January 22, 2023
Johnny Walker with the dog-walker tko 🐶
— Capone 🦍 (@CaponeOfFamilia) January 22, 2023
https://t.co/vdVbrlPQe0
CONGRATULATIONS @JohnnyWalker #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/nD2vCzwMbI
— Sober Costa 🍷 (@EraserBy) January 22, 2023
When she says she's into MMA pic.twitter.com/nAVX9c58Rn
— Squid Vicious MMA (@SquidViciousMMA) January 22, 2023
After making statements with four straight wins to start his UFC career between 2018 and 2019, Walker’s UFC future was in great question after losing four of his next five fights. He has since rebounded now with this victory after submitting Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279 in September.
Craig, meanwhile, has now lost two straight (he dropped a unanimous decision to Volkan Oezdemir in July) after a six-fight unbeaten stint.