Rumor Mill: Is This the Fighter Ante Delija Will Face in Belgrade?
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Croatian heavyweight Ante Delija is reportedly set to fight Johnny Walker at a UFC event in Belgrade.
- Walker, a Brazilian fighter, will move up to the heavyweight division for the bout.
- Both fighters have verbally agreed, but contracts are pending official confirmation.
The mixed martial arts world is buzzing with the news that Croatia's top heavyweight, Ante Delija, is slated to compete at the highly anticipated UFC event in Belgrade on August 1. While Delija's participation in the neighboring country was expected, the identity of his opponent has come as a surprise to many.
The best Croatian heavyweight, Ante Delija, is expected to perform at the historic UFC event in Belgrade.
According to MMA journalist Alex Behunin of MMA Mania, Delija's adversary will be the exciting Brazilian fighter Johnny Walker. While both fighters have reportedly given their verbal consent to the matchup, official contracts are still awaiting signatures. Walker, a well-known figure in the light heavyweight division, is making the move to heavyweight after a disappointing loss to Dominick Reyes.
Delija, a former PFL champion, is seeking to rebound from two consecutive losses. His spectacular UFC debut in Paris in 2025, a sub-two-minute knockout of Marcin Tybura, initially propelled him into the rankings. However, subsequent defeats to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Sergei Spivac have stalled his progress. A fight against a prominent name like Walker in front of a regional audience presents an ideal opportunity for Delija to re-establish himself among the elite.
According to unofficial information, his opponent will be the attractive Johnny Walker, who is moving up to the heavyweight category for this occasion.
Delija himself has hinted at the legitimacy of these rumors by sharing a poster of a potential fight against Walker on his Instagram, asking followers, "Do you want to watch this?" While not a direct confirmation, the post suggests significant negotiations are underway. The bout promises an intriguing clash of styles, pitting Delija's striking power against Walker's resilience, with Delija expected to have substantial crowd support in Belgrade.
Do you want to watch this?
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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