The UFC Shanghai event turned out to be a smooth ride for Johnny Walker. He comfortably made weight, knocked out a dangerous surging prospect, Mingyang Zhang, and finally got back in the win column after two long years. China had been nothing but positive for him. But then came a sudden twist that shocked the UFC world. Rumors began circulating that Walker had been arrested in China and was facing difficulties getting in touch with his team.

However, not much clear information was available about the same. That left UFC fans confused. It turns out the whole thing was fueled by none other than another prominent Brazilian fighter, who has a reputation for stirring the pot. Here’s all that you need to know.

Johnny Walker’s China arrest claims debunked

After Johnny Walker triumphed in what might be one of the most important fights of his career, social media quickly went wild. That opened the door for Renato Moicano’s ‘Show Me the Money’ pod to stir things up by posting an infographic on Instagram claiming, “Johnny Walker has been arrested in China and is unable to leave.”

“This was the sacrifice Johnny Walker was willing to make,” the post was captioned. Many fans actually fell for it, believing the light heavyweight contender had been taken into custody. It didn’t take long, however, for Walker to shut down the rumor. He uploaded an Instagram story with his brother, making it clear he was doing well and definitely not arrested. In the end, it was simply Moicano and his team trying to spark some funny chaos after the fight, perhaps poking fun at the local fans, who had to see Zhang lose via a TKO in round 2.

A quick glance at the ‘Show Me the Money’ account shows this isn’t out of character. It regularly shares humorous content, including a recent fight poster of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis, where Paul was made to look comically oversized. The podcast is run by Moicano Gilbert Burns & Matty Betss.

So, it’s safe to say Johnny Walker has not been arrested in China. But that does raise an interesting question—has he ever faced any kind of criminal or civil charges in the past? Let’s dig into it!

Has the Brazilian ever been in legal trouble?

MMA is a wild sport where clashes happen inside the cage, but for some fighters, their personal lives are just as chaotic. Jon Jones might be the perfect example of that—constantly finding himself in trouble outside the Octagon. But that doesn’t seem to be the case for Johnny Walker. The light heavyweight contender has kept a fairly clean slate, with no criminal or civil charges tied to his name.

That said, he is no stranger to controversy. After defeating Ion Cuțelaba at UFC 279 (2022), Walker and his team were unexpectedly kicked out of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas—still in their fight gear. His then-coach, John Kavanagh, who also trains Conor McGregor, openly expressed frustration with how the situation was handled at the time. Back then, Dana White had suggested that the situation may have happened because of their COVID protocols.

Beyond that, Walker’s controversies have mostly been limited to quirky moments and the usual beefs with fellow fighters. So, with all that said, what do you make of the Johnny Walker arrest rumor? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!