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Johnny Walker moves to Heavyweight, set to collide with Ante Delija at UFC Belgrade
TL;DR
Johnny Walker is moving up to Heavyweight to fight Ante Delija at UFC Belgrade on August 1, 2026. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the matchup, pending contract issuance.
Key points
- Johnny Walker is moving to Heavyweight
- He will fight Ante Delija
- The fight is at UFC Belgrade
- Scheduled for August 1, 2026
- Both fighters have verbally agreed
Mentioned in this story
Belgrade
Johnny WalkerAnte DelijaUFC Belgrade
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 09: Johnny Walker of Brazil is seen on stage during the UFC 327 press conference at Kaseya Center on April 09, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Moving on up.
MMAmania.com confirmed with multiple sources today (Thurs., April 30, 2026) that longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight staple Johnny Walker will make the jump to Heavyweight to face No. 10-ranked Ante Delija at UFC Belgrade on Sat., August 1, 2026, inside Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.
Both fighters have verbally agreed to the matchup, though contracts have not yet been issued.
After 16 fights at 205 pounds, Walker (22-10) is officially moving up ā a transition that has been looming. Standing 6ā6ā, he already has the frame of a Heavyweight, and heās previously admitted the weight cut has become increasingly difficult. The big question now is how his already questionable durability holds up against the divisionās heavier hitters.
Walker is coming off a lackluster unanimous decision loss to , widely criticized as one of the worst fights of the year. Prior to that, he snapped a two-fight skid with a highlight-reel knockout of at UFC Shanghai.
Q&A
When is Johnny Walker's fight against Ante Delija scheduled?
The fight is scheduled for August 1, 2026, at UFC Belgrade.
What weight class is Johnny Walker moving to for his next fight?
Johnny Walker is moving up to the Heavyweight division for his next fight.
Who is Ante Delija and what is his ranking?
Ante Delija is a No. 10-ranked Heavyweight fighter in the UFC.