Valter Walker wrote his name in a history book by earning consecutive heel hook finishes within the first octagon of the UFC heavyweights.
Walker forced Junior Tafa to resign in the first round of the Battle of UFC 305 in August 2024. The Brazilian heavyweight returned to his actions at UFC Nashville, facing Kennedy Nuzechukw this Saturday night, revealing that he respects veteran Lucimmer Paljares as he goes to the end of his nature.
“‘Tukinho’ caught everyone with that move,” Walker told MMA Fighting. “I’ve seen his highlights since I was 14 and 15. I’m a huge fan of him. I’ve never been known for this move. I’ve never been compared to him. I’m a fan of him. He’s an idol to me.
UFC veteran and former World Series welterweight champion Palhares won submissions in 16 of 16 wins in 19 MMAs, including 10 heel hooks. He is allegedly holding his submissions for a long time, which led to a controversial figure in the MMA spares, leading to releases from the UFC and WSOF.
“I don’t think anyone is doing better than me, especially at the heavyweight class,” Walker said. “When people are too afraid of something, that’s what happens. (nzechukwu) is definitely training it. I think it’s going to make more holes for me to throw my hands or try something else.
Walker said it’s difficult to train movements in the gym. Because he changed the way he practiced attacks, as he could suffer serious injuries for more than a second.
“He tried to protect it and stopped Rowling, so I hurt a friend at the gym,” Walker said. “He rolled, I rolled, then he thought he would roll again, but he didn’t. The movement is very dangerous, and when my friends defend it, it’s because I didn’t put any strength into it.
Walker has become a fan favorite in the Brazilian MMA space for his humorous posts on social media, and says that some members of his team (his wife) tried to persuade him to create a scary persona instead.
“I wanted to act like this meaningful guy who can hurt you. “My wife and coach want me to stop joking and act so that people can fear me.
“In Australia (Tafa) told me a lot of crap about me and I felt I could break his leg, but there’s something inside me, do you know? I felt sick. He cried out. To someone, you believe in God.