How Much Is Johnny Walker Getting Paid Against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Saudi Arabia?

Johnny Walker made his way to the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018 and has cemented his place as a must-watch fighter for the MMA fandom. Known for his flashy and unorthodox strikes, Walker utilizes his explosive athleticism to devastating effect inside the Octagon as evidenced by his highlight reel knockouts of Khalil Rountree Jr., Ryan Spann, Misha Cirkunov, and Justin Ledet.

While his last two fights against Magomed Ankalaev ended in disappointment for the Brazilian, first with a questionable doctor stoppage and then with a second-round knockout, Walker is now aiming to get back to his winning ways against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Saudi Arabia. As such, many fans have been curious to know about his salary for the UFC’s highly anticipated debut in the region. So let’s take a look and explore all we know about his estimated payout for this event.

Johnny Walker’s payout against Volkan Oezdemir

According to reports by ‘MMA Salaries’, Johnny Walker secured a base salary of $120,000 for his fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 294. Including the money from the ‘Venum’ sponsorship, his total payout for the event was $131,000. His opponent, Ankalaev, received a base salary of $150,000 with another $11,000 on top as sponsorship money, bringing his total payout for the event to $161,000.

Their clash at UFC 294 ended in a ‘No Contest’ because a referee stopped the bout after Walker was hit with an illegal knee and the ringside physician declared him unable to continue. Therefore, there were no win bonuses awarded to either of the fighters for this event. As such, we can reasonably assume that Johnny Walker will be making the same base salary and sponsorship income for his fight against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Saudi Arabia, minus whatever win/performance bonuses he might secure.

However, it’s important to note that the above numbers are an estimation based on previous contracts and other information available online since the UFC does not publicly reveal payouts. Nevertheless, despite recent challenges in his UFC career, Johnny Walker continues to captivate fans with his dynamic fighting style, and in a recent interview, he indicated that he remains focused on his dream of holding the coveted UFC light heavyweight title.

Walker remains undaunted in his pursuit of UFC greatness

Johnny Walker’s recent loss against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 84 put an end to his 4-fight unbeaten streak in the promotion that began in 2022. However, in an interview with MMA Junkie ahead of his UFC Saudi Arabia clash against Volkan Oezdemir, Walker revealed that “Hopefully it puts me a little more up in the ranks, get one or two more wins, and then hopefully, you know, I’ve always been there talking about the title shot.”

Walker is currently ranked no. 7 in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division, and revealed in the interview that he views his loss against Ankalaev as a necessary part of his journey to the top. He stated, “Life is a journey that you have to go through with a brave heart in what you’re doing, learn from your mistakes and come back stronger, and let’s be f*cking going.”

His unwavering belief in his path and his ability to learn and grow from each fight exemplifies his championship mindset and despite recent setbacks, his fight against Volkan Oezdemir represents more than just a chance to climb the rankings, it’s a critical step in his relentless pursuit of UFC gold.

Do you think Johnny Walker can find himself in the UFC light heavyweight division’s title conversation with a win at UFC Saudi Arabia? Share your thoughts in the comments below.