Johnny Walker calls out UFC veteran following explosive heavyweight debut

Johnny Walker made a successful UFC heavyweight debut at UFC 332 on October 3, knocking out Mick Parkin with a knee strike just 3:35 into the opening round. The Brazilian has already set his sights on his next opponent, calling out veteran Marcin Tybura and requesting a December fight at UFC 335 in Las Vegas.

Walker told talkSPORT he views Tybura as an ideal opponent to gain more experience at the heavyweight division before challenging its elite competitors. "I want more experience before I take higher-ranked levels of fights, because I believe I have to. I don't want to step ahead of myself," Walker said.

Tybura, 40, enters the matchup on a three-fight losing streak. He dropped unanimous decisions to Tyrell Fortune and Aleksandar Rakic and was knocked out by Ante Delija in September 2025. His most recent victory came against Parkin in March 2025. Despite the skid, Tybura's decade of UFC experience makes him a credible test for Walker as the Brazilian continues his transition to heavyweight.