Corey Anderson vs. Johnny Walker added to UFC 244 at MSG

corey-anderson-celebrates-ufc-win

Corey Anderson celebrates after picking up a win in the UFC. (John Locher/AP)

Ranked light-heavyweight contenders Corey Anderson and Johnny Walker are set to meet in a featured bout at UFC 244 later this year with the winner possibly emerging as the next title challenger.

The UFC officially announced the matchup Tuesday.

Anderson (12-4) went 3-0 in 2018 with unanimous decision victories over respected veterans Patrick Cummins, Glover Teixeira and Ilir Latifi after going 0-2 in 2017 and suffering knockout losses to Jimi Manuwa and Ovince Saint Preux. The 29-year-old is currently the No. 8-ranked contender in the 205-pound division.

Meanwhile, Walker has won nine in a row since 2016. The Brazilian has been a force since debuting on Dana White’s Contender Series one year ago. Walker, 27, is officially 3-0 in the UFC with three wildly impressive first-round knockout victories over Khalil Roundtree Jr. (1:57), Justin Ledet (0:15) and Canadian Misha Cirkunov (0:36).

UFC 244 is scheduled to take place No. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Jon Jones — coming off back-to-back-to-back title defences against Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos — remains the champion in the light-heavyweight division but it’s unclear exactly when and against whom his next title defence might take place.

There are rumblings that Jones (who once again could potentially have legal hurdles looming) could face the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title fight between champ Daniel Cormier and former titleholder Stipe Miocic.

Undefeated American Dominick Reyes, like Anderson and Walker, has also risen into title conversation as the No. 4-ranked contender in the division. Reyes is set to welcome Chris Weidman to the division in October. A win over a former middleweight champion like Weidman could lead to Reyes getting a shot. If Weidman wins, of course, he’d automatically be an option for the UFC as well.

[relatedlinks]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.