Is the 33-Year-Old Fighter Back to Being at His Best?
Johnny Walker might have just pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year. In the main event of UFC Shanghai, he defeated rising Chinese prospect Zhang Mingyang. Mingyang entered the fight as a major favorite — and for good reason. The 26-year-old was riding a 12-fight winning streak, all by first-round KO, and had looked dominant throughout his run. Walker, meanwhile, was coming off back-to-back knockout losses, and many doubted whether his chin could withstand Mingyang’s power.
Walker entered the cage with a clear game plan: stay unpredictable and switch up his style. He knew that trading punches early with Mingyang would be a recipe for disaster. Just five seconds into the fight, Walker faked a handshake and immediately shot for a takedown, successfully bringing the fight to the mat. From there, he used his grappling and ground-and-pound to cause damage and some control in the first round. The pace also wore on Mingyang’s cardio, which slowed his trademark power punches later in the fight.
In the second round, Mingyang looked more hesitant, focusing on counter-striking and defense as he tried to recover. Walker stayed aggressive, switching stances and attacking the legs repeatedly, exploiting Mingyang’s lack of a takedown threat. The accumulation of those strikes wore Mingyang down and opened the door for Walker to score a stunning KO finish. His willingness to mix up his tools and lean on different aspects of his game made Mingyang uncomfortable from start to finish and showcased a version of Walker fans have been waiting to see.
This victory was massive for Walker. Not only did it keep him inside the Light Heavyweight rankings, but it also gave him momentum to potentially move back into the title picture. Rumors suggest he may be eyeing a matchup with Jan Blachowicz, a former champion who would test both his striking and grappling on a much higher level. For Walker, consistency will be the key moving forward. If he can continue to stay disciplined, unpredictable, and defensively sound, this upset in Shanghai might mark the true rebirth of his career rather than just a one-off surprise.
