Corey Anderson vs. Johnny Walker Slated For UFC 244

Jason Silva-USA Today Sports
Johnny Walker returns from injury this November.

A light heavyweight showdown between long-time contender Corey Anderson, and Dana White's Tuesday Night Contenders product Johnny Walker is almost official for UFC 244, at Madison Square Garden this November, as first reported by ESPN staff writer Brett Okamoto.

Anderson, who is fresh from a unanimous decision triumph over the tricky Ilir Latifi extending his current win streak to three, must get past Brazilian striker Walker before a possible championship tie with Jon 'Bones' Jones. Charismatic Brazilian striker Walker has secured three consecutive promotion finishes since his debut last year, stopping Khalil Rountree Jr., Justin Ledet and most impressively on short notice, Misha Cirkunov via an opening round flying knee. Walker has been cleared to compete after sustaining a rather surprising post-fight injury, in which the 27-year-old injured his shoulder while performing 'The Worm'.

Anderson, who currently occupies the #8 rank at light heavyweight recently campaigned for a title clash with Jones as the division best took part in an autograph signing last week, only to have hopes scuppered by UFC President Dana White. Speaking after UFC Fight Night Newark, White explained how Anderson had been offered a handful of fights since the beginning of July which were subsequently rejected, denying the Illinois native a title tilt.

November will mark Walker's fourth fight in just a single calendar year, and a victory over TUF alumni Anderson would further his claim to a title opportunity sometime in 2020. Currently training in Dublin with the likes of Bellator MMA welterweight contender Richie Kiely at SBG Tallaght, Walker has long been eyeing a clash with Anderson, calling out 'Overtime' via Twitter in recent days.

UFC 244 takes place on the 2nd of November at Madison Square Garden, with a heavyweight meeting between former title chaser Derrick 'The Black Beast' Lewis and one-time WSOF heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov also confirmed.

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