Johnny Walker details UFC 311 injury pullout, recent camp change

Withdrawing from UFC 311 was a tricky capsule to swallow for Johnny Walker.

Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) was searching for new life forward of his mild heavyweight matchup towards Bogdan Guskov this previous Saturday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., however he was compelled out resulting from a “dangerous harm.”

Walker was within the midst of an enormous life change after deciding to go away Dublin, Eire for the U.S. and convey his household with him. So when he might not compete, it weighed closely on him.

“Yeah, that was actually arduous for me,” Walker informed MMA Junkie. “It was lots for me as a result of I simply moved from Eire. I spent the final 4 years in Eire coaching at SBG underneath John Kavanagh. Then I moved nation, I introduced my spouse, my child, and my canine to a brand new nation, a brand new home. I needed to end the home, make plenty of luggage and apart of that, I began a coaching camp in a brand new surroundings with new teaching and new coaching companions. It was lots.

“I used to be so dedicated to coaching. I went to Gilroy, educated with DC, did plenty of sparring with Strickland in Vegas at Xtreme Couture, educated with Eric, a brand new coach. I put plenty of effort into making this battle occur. It was plenty of stress, mentally and bodily. I put plenty of myself into this camp. Round all of this case, I invested some huge cash. Then one thing occurred. I used to be very upset as a result of I put a lot effort and time and money to make this occur, however we can’t management.”

Walker revealed that it was a rib harm that compelled UFC docs to drag him from the battle.

“It was nothing silly,” Walker mentioned. “I used to be doing the final sparring, very technical, timing. I wasn’t making an attempt to harm anyone. It was arduous sparring, however very acutely aware. I used to be making an attempt to get out of a jiu-jitsu place and throw myself, like a traditional factor, after which I felt my ribs pop. I mentioned, ‘OK, cease, cease, cease.’ I feel one thing occurred to my ribs. Then I attempted to maintain preventing, I stood up once more, began shifting. I used to be like, ‘Wait, one thing’s incorrect.’ Then I needed to cease to test what occurred so it doesn’t worsen.

“Then I obtained an X-ray the following day. The UFC obtained the outcomes, after which they pulled me out after that. They knew how dangerous the harm was. I obtained the discover and was devastated as a result of I used to be making an attempt so arduous. A lot effort and a lot timing. …I’m doing plenty of physiotherapy to heal. You may’t do a lot with rib accidents. You simply should cease, wait, and let it heal. It takes time, 4 to 6 weeks, and I’ll be again on observe. It’s what it’s. I’ve by no means harm my ribs earlier than.”

Walker, who’s focusing on a return in April or Could, is grateful for the time he spent coaching underneath John Kavanagh at SBG. Nonetheless, he defined why he didn’t really feel just like the coaching surroundings was fitted to him.

“We had the very best coach there. John was a really high-level coach,” Walker mentioned. “He did the very best for me. He improved my recreation lots, however I simply had one or two coaching companions. The final battle towards (Volkan) Oezdemir, I used to be adapting myself to prepare as greatest as I might for the battle. I used to be doing boxing sparring within the ring. … Within the battle, you may see I introduced him near the fence, which was incorrect as a result of I used to be sparring within the ring. You may’t spar within the ring and battle within the octagon. It’s completely totally different. Within the octagon, for those who step near the fence, the man goes to take you down, or the man goes to knock you out as a result of whenever you’re near the fence, it’s the worst place to be. The man (Oezdemir) knocked me out as a result of I introduced him to the fence.

“That is the worst factor you are able to do in MMA. The surroundings wasn’t good for MMA. At SBG, I had only one coaching associate. Right here in Vegas, I’ve the UFC PI for energy and conditioning, for vitamin, for restoration. At Xtreme Couture, I’ve high-level guys between high 10 and high 15. Gentle heavyweight and heavyweight, and Sean Strickland. Each day I’ve a high-level man to coach with. You want challenges, and now at Xtreme, I’ve that problem. …I’ve the whole lot now for restoration, for vitamin, for coaching, teaching. Now the sunshine heavyweights are in hassle. Now you’re going to have the very best model of Johnny Walker as a result of I’m simply going to be higher. Now my profession goes to fly.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 311.