What happened: Fellow fighters praised Johnny Walker after he won his divisional debut with a first-round knockout over Mick Parkin at UFC 332. The victory immediately sparked calls from peers for a matchup against Alex Pereira.

Why it matters: The successful move up in weight revitalizes his career trajectory after he previously stated the cut to 205 pounds left him dizzy in sparring. Finishing a natural heavyweight so quickly validates his decision to abandon the light heavyweight division.

What to watch: Matchmakers will now evaluate whether to fast-track Walker against established heavyweight contenders.