Johnny Walker (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Johnny Walker has work to do in the light-heavyweight division first, but recently the rising star has been talking about fighting, and defeating, Francis Ngannou.

It’s not clear who the 27-year-old Walker will face next, following his quick, stoppage win over fellow contender Misha Cirkunov in March. Since that victory was the Brazilian fighter’s third straight, first-round finish since he joined the UFC, talk about Walker facing Jones is already making the rounds.

While Walker acknowledges a fight with Jones likely won’t materialize next, while talking to MMA Fighting recently, the charismatic fighter said this:

“I’d like to impress the fans by beating Francis Ngannou. He’s a machine,” Walker said. “He impressed so many people with his punching power, the way he finishes his fights. People is scared to fight him. I’m not scared to fight him. We have the same punching power. I did the test at the UFC Performance Institute. I was coming off a surgery and almost did the same number he did, so I have the same power or even more. I can definitely defeat him.”

Ngannou, meanwhile, is coming off a quick stoppage win over Junior dos Santos last month and has won three in a row.