Asplund channels GSP's iconic Hughes callout to target Walker at UFC 335

Steven Asplund wants a piece of Johnny Walker at UFC 335 in December, issuing his callout by borrowing one of the most memorable lines in UFC history — Georges St-Pierre’s awkward 2006 dig at Matt Hughes.

Walker (23-10, 1 NC) made his heavyweight debut at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on Saturday, finishing Mick Parkin with a knee in the opening round to earn a $100,000 performance bonus. The finish was enough to put Asplund on notice — and on Instagram.

“Johnny Walker, I’m not impressed by your performance,” Asplund said on his Instagram Stories, closely echoing St-Pierre’s words from nearly two decades ago. “And come on, man, meet me in December at T-Mobile, brother, you big bastard.”

Asplund (8-2) has gone 2-1 in the UFC since earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, and is targeting the Las Vegas card at T-Mobile Arena for what would be a marquee heavyweight matchup.

The line he borrowed carries considerable weight in MMA lore. At UFC 63 in 2006, St-Pierre stepped into the Octagon after Hughes had stopped B.J. Penn via third-round TKO to retain the welterweight title. In an uncharacteristically blunt moment, the usually composed Canadian told Hughes he was not impressed with his performance — a callout that became one of the sport’s most replayed in-cage exchanges.

Asplund’s decision to repurpose it adds a layer of theatre to what is still an unofficial challenge. No fight between the two has been announced, and Walker has yet to respond publicly.