UFC 311 loses major ranked fight featuring fan-favorite knockout artist

The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of the year, UFC 311, is in jeopardy.

Not only could CEO Dana White be forced to move UFC 311 because of the California wildfires, it has been confirmed that the UFC 311 main and co-main events have no backup fighters. Fans might not see Islam Makhachev or Merab Dvalishvili defend their titles if any pull-outs happen.

Regardless of the fact, UFC 311 was squeaky clean until some recent news that one of the more alluring fights on the card has been cancelled.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLCJohnny Walker pulls out of UFC 311 fight with Bogdan Guskov due to injuryN.o. 10-ranked light heavyweight Johnny Walker has revealed he is pulling out of UFC 311 with an injury. Walker was set to face No. 13 Bogdan Guskov. The announcement came in the form of a video posted to Walker’s social channels.

“Hi guys, bad news, I’ve been pulled out by a bad injury next week at UFC 311,” Walker announced. “[…] I wish Bogdan good luck, hopefully he can find an opponent.”

Despite Walker’s recent track record of two losses and a no-contest, his fight with Guskov was one of the more anticipated low-profile fights on the card. The two strikers combined for 35 finishes in 37 professional victories.

Slim pickings for Bogdan Guskov at UFC 311Russia’s Guskov has been on the slow rise since his action-packed debut defeat against Volkan Oezdemir in 2023. ‘Czarevitch’ quickly recouped with two knockouts and two performance bonuses in 2024. Guskov’s knockout over Ryan Spann quickly earned him a spot in the rankings.

Ideally, he’d be looking for a higher-ranked opponent in lieu of Walker, but the options are slim. Anthony Smith is dealing with emotional trauma, Azamat Murzakanov was recently suspended, and many other fighters are booked or injured.

With one week to go before UFC 311, we’ll see if a new matchup can be made for Guskov.