Is a return finally on the horizon for Johnny Walker? The UFC light heavyweight, known for his iconic post-fight celebrations, has had a rough start to 2025. A shot at Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 316 was supposed to be his rebound moment. But just as the hype built for his return at the event, the lights went out again.

Walker, bruised and broken, pulled out for the second time in 2025, the first being in January against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 311, and now this. In a social media post at the time, the Brazilian knockout artist had stated, “I’m devastated. A lot of hard work I put in. A few months, train a lot. I really want to come back and do the show for you, but not this time.”

Yet all is not lost! While Walker recovers in silence, Dana White and the UFC will be bringing the heat to China at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. And headlining the card? None other than Johnny Walker, this time, penciled in against rising knockout artist Mingyang Zhang. The update came courtesy of MMA journalist RealKevinK on X, where he shared, “Breaking News: Per Sources: Mingyang Zhang vs Johnny Walker is The Main Event on August 23rd Shanghai Indoor Stadium”

Walker’s career has been a rollercoaster of explosive wins and brutal setbacks. His last two outings in 2024 ended with him flat on the mat, first against the newly crowned champ Magomed Ankalaev, then against Volkan Oezdemir. After that, the injury bug took over, and both UFC 311 and UFC 316 saw him miss out on a chance to make his return.

The upcoming Shanghai fight? It’s not just another main event, it’s a high-stakes gamble for the Brazilian. Zhang has been tearing through the light heavyweight ranks like a wrecking ball. Undefeated in the UFC with three straight first-round finishes, the 26-year-old Chinese phenom recently sent Anthony Smith packing with a brutal ground-and-pound assault at UFC on ESPN 66.

After the fight, ‘Mountain Tiger’ took the microphone and announced as the crowd showered him with boos, “I know you don’t know who I am, but now you know.” And now? He’s got Johnny Walker in his crosshairs. But will Walker finally make it to the Octagon this time? That’s the million-dollar question. Despite his recent setbacks, he still boasts a 71% KO/TKO rate in the UFC, making him a must-see fighter for the fans. And for his part, the Brazilian has gone to extraordinary lengths to build a fan base not just with fists, but with words too?

Johnny Walker reveals the secret weapon that helped him become fluent in English

Johnny Walker isn’t just unpredictable inside the cage. Remember the time he dislocated his shoulder celebrating a win? That happened after he knocked out Misha Cirkunov with a flying knee at UFC 235. Yet, it’s that willingness to go to the extremes of chaos that has made Walker a fan favorite. In fact, his approach to learning English was almost as unorthodox as his post-fight antics!

During a recent appearance on the ‘Verse Us with Eric Nicksick’ podcast, Walker shared, “My best teachers were Duolingo and Tinder.” The language learning app is understandable, but the dating app? The Brazilian was living in Scotland at the time and continued, “I had f—— 100 matches on Tinder, and I’m not saying I’m a very handsome guy, but I was a gringo there. They wanted a guy that was different than what they see, different than f—– blonde guys there…”

Between those conversations and daily Duolingo lessons, Walker claimed he became fluent in just three months! Whether he’s flying through the air with a knee or swiping through Tinder to master English, the man finds a way to surprise everyone watching.

Now, the stage is set for August 23. Johnny Walker isn’t just fighting Mingyang Zhang, he’s fighting the weight of missed opportunities, a losing streak, and a body that keeps breaking down. Will he rise from the ashes once more? Or will ‘Mountain Tiger’ maul his comeback before it even begins? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!