Brazilian fighter Johnny Walker is reportedly preparing to make the significant move to the heavyweight division for his upcoming UFC appearance. According to MMA journalist Alexander Behunin, Walker is slated to face No. 10 ranked heavyweight contender Ante Delija at UFC Belgrade. The event is scheduled for August 1st and will take place at the Belgrade Arena in Serbia.
Sources indicate that both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout, although official contracts are still in the process of being finalized. This potential matchup marks a new chapter for Walker, who has been a prominent figure in the light heavyweight division since joining the UFC in 2018.
Recent Performances
Walker’s last outing was a split decision loss to former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 earlier this month. Prior to that defeat, he secured a knockout victory over Mingyang Zhang at UFC Shanghai in August 2025.
Throughout his UFC career in the light heavyweight division, the 34-year-old Brazilian has achieved a professional record of 8 wins and 7 losses with one no-contest. His notable wins include victories over Khalil Rountree Jr., Anthony Smith, and Paul Craig.
Ante Delija last entered the Octagon at UFC Houston in February, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Serghei Spivac. The former PFL champion had a successful Octagon debut at UFC Paris in September 2025, securing a first-round knockout against Marcin Tybura. However, his momentum was interrupted by a subsequent loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta in November.
Delija, who boasts a professional record of 26 wins and 8 losses, has a history of impressive stoppage victories against opponents such as Renan Ferreira, Matheus Scheffel, and Yorgan De Castro.
Johnny Walker Reportedly Plots Heavyweight Debut Against Top-10 Contender At UFC Belgrade On August 1
Johnny Walker is reportedly slated to make his heavyweight debut in his next UFC appearance. MMA journalist Alexander Behunin reports that Johnny Walker is expected to face No. 10 ranked contender Ante Delija at UFC Belgrade on August 1st. The event is set to take place at the Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia. Both fighters have reportedly given verbal agreement to the bout, with official contracts pending finalization.
Walker’s most recent fight was a split decision loss to Dominick Reyes at UFC 327. Before that, he secured a knockout win over Mingyang Zhang at UFC Shanghai in August 2025. The 34-year-old Brazilian has competed in the UFC’s light heavyweight division since November 2018, amassing an 8-7-1 record with wins over notable fighters like Khalil Rountree Jr., Anthony Smith, and Paul Craig.
Ante Delija’s last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Serghei Spivac at UFC Houston in February. Delija, a former PFL champion, had a strong Octagon debut with a first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura at UFC Paris in September 2025, but his momentum was halted by a loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta in November. Delija holds a professional record of 26-8 with numerous stoppage victories.
