Johnny Walker is now trying his luck in the Heavyweight division, after losing a split decision to Dominic Reyes at UFC 327.
Walker fought 16 fights in UFC’s light heavyweight division, and he is set to face Ante Delija at UFC Belgrade on August 1, 2026, at Belgrade Arena in Serbia. The two teams have reportedly agreed to their matchup, but the contracts are not yet finalized.
Walker, standing at 6-foot-6, was always one of the bigger fighters at. Over the course of his career, the weight cut grew increasingly difficult for him. Moving to a new division may give him a fresh start.
Still, this move has puzzled some fans. Sure, he might have the size to be a decent heavyweight. And his movement and speed could help him in a division full of plodders. But he has a reputation for having a weak chin at light heavyweight, so how he would deal with heavyweight power.
After all, he has been knocked out seven times at light heavyweight, as well as dislocating his shoulder doing the “worm” in his now infamous post-fight celebration in 2019. If light heavyweights can KO him this many times, imagine what heavyweight power can do…
Alternatively, the extra weight may actually make his chin stronger. He may have been depleting himself too much to make LHW. And a better diet, hydration and a few extra pounds might have just what it takes to heal his chin.
Anyway, here is a compilation of his KO losses at LHW.
Meanwhile Delija is looking to bounce back
The Croatian heavyweight showed promise in his UFC debut when he knocked out Marcin Tybura cold in less than two minutes at UFC Paris back in September 2025. That win pushed him into the rankings, but his career has slowed down a bit since then. He suffered two devastating losses against Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Serghei Spivac. So he badly needs this win as well, or he might risk getting cut by the UFC.
Before even signing with the UFC, he made his name in the PFL, where he was crowned a champion and built a 8-3 record.
He looks to be a difficult test for Walker in the division as he comes with an aggressive style and knockout power.
UFC Belgrade will be the promotion’s first event in Serbia, so he will have hometown support.
What do you think? Can Johnny Walker’s Chin handle heavyweight power?