Valter Walker
The Clean Monster
Russia
Fifth straight submission win
Walker defeated Thomas Petersen via submission (calf slicer) at 1:32 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
Clearly bored with having won four straight fights via first-round heel hook, Walker mixed things up and got Petersen out of there with a calf slicer. The unique submission would go on to earn him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus. The Brazilian has turned into a completely different fighter during this recent run of success, displaying absolutely no interest in doing anything other than going for exotic lower-leg submissions. Thus far, it's worked. Not only has Walker racked up five first-round submissions in a row, but the last four have come in 92 seconds or less. This would appear to be an extremely volatile way of going about your business, but there's no reason for Walker to change the game plan until it no longer works.
Clearly bored with having won four straight fights via first-round heel hook, Walker mixed things up and got Petersen out of there with a calf slicer. The unique submission would go on to earn him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus. The Brazilian has turned into a completely different fighter during this recent run of success, displaying absolutely no interest in doing anything other than going for exotic lower-leg submissions. Thus far, it's worked. Not only has Walker racked up five first-round submissions in a row, but the last four have come in 92 seconds or less. This would appear to be an extremely volatile way of going about your business, but there's no reason for Walker to change the game plan until it no longer works.
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Looks to extend winning streak
Walker will take on Thomas Petersen in a heavyweight matchup at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, Marcel Dorff of Heavy on Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Walker has parlayed a four-fight winning streak into a spot in the UFC heavyweight rankings, and he'll look to continue that momentum against Petersen, a heavyweight who has been a bit uneven, alternating wins and losses in his first seven fights with the company. Walker will enter with height and reach advantages, though his biggest strength is wrestling and submissions. Petersen sports an 87 percent takedown defense, so it's possible both strengths negate and Walker will have to rely on his striking more than usual.
Walker has parlayed a four-fight winning streak into a spot in the UFC heavyweight rankings, and he'll look to continue that momentum against Petersen, a heavyweight who has been a bit uneven, alternating wins and losses in his first seven fights with the company. Walker will enter with height and reach advantages, though his biggest strength is wrestling and submissions. Petersen sports an 87 percent takedown defense, so it's possible both strengths negate and Walker will have to rely on his striking more than usual.
Out for UFC Seattle
Walker will not fight Marcin Tybura at UFC Seattle on March 28, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Back in January, the UFC announced that Walker and Tybura would fight in their Seattle card, though it looks like that will no longer come to fruition. Walker has withdrawn from the event, and Tybura will take on Tyrell Fortune. Walker's return timeline is unclear.
Back in January, the UFC announced that Walker and Tybura would fight in their Seattle card, though it looks like that will no longer come to fruition. Walker has withdrawn from the event, and Tybura will take on Tyrell Fortune. Walker's return timeline is unclear.
Draws Tybura in Seattle
Walker (leg) will take on Marcin Tybura in a heavyweight matchup at UFC Seattle on March 28, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Walker is riding a four-fight winning streak with back-to-back POTN bonuses, but his momentum was stalled a bit by a leg injury suffered in his October bout against Louie Sutherland. Now apparently healthy, the heavyweight will get his first chance at a top-10 opponent in Tybura, who is coming off a loss. Walker has consistently been able to get takedowns against lower-level opponents, but Tybura has a good -- but not great -- 75 percent takedown defense.
Walker is riding a four-fight winning streak with back-to-back POTN bonuses, but his momentum was stalled a bit by a leg injury suffered in his October bout against Louie Sutherland. Now apparently healthy, the heavyweight will get his first chance at a top-10 opponent in Tybura, who is coming off a loss. Walker has consistently been able to get takedowns against lower-level opponents, but Tybura has a good -- but not great -- 75 percent takedown defense.
Suffers leg injury
Walker suffered a leg injury during his fight against Louie Sutherland at UFC 321 on Saturday, according to Farah Hannoun of MMAJunkie.com.
ANALYSIS
Walker broke his left fibula after eating a kick from Sutherland 40 seconds into their fight. Around that much time later, the former got the latter in a heel hook to earn a submission win. It may be the last for some time, though Walker is already back to gym work, considering a broken fibula likely requires extended time off.
Walker broke his left fibula after eating a kick from Sutherland 40 seconds into their fight. Around that much time later, the former got the latter in a heel hook to earn a submission win. It may be the last for some time, though Walker is already back to gym work, considering a broken fibula likely requires extended time off.
Fourth straight heel hook victory
Walker defeated Louie Sutherland via submission (heel hook) at 1:24 of Round 1 at UFC 321 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
And thus continues one of the strangest and most impressive streaks in MMA history. Walker has now won four straight fights, all in Round 1, all via heel hook. Heel hooks are exceedingly rare, and Walker has now come out of nowhere to find one in four bouts in a row. This one would go on to win him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus -- his second in as many fights. To be fair, the UFC has matched him up against one-dimensional strikers this entire streak (Sutherland, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Don'Tale Mayes, Junior Tafa), but that doesn't make it any less impressive. It will be interesting to see how Walker goes about things when he is inevitably forced to change up the game plan.
And thus continues one of the strangest and most impressive streaks in MMA history. Walker has now won four straight fights, all in Round 1, all via heel hook. Heel hooks are exceedingly rare, and Walker has now come out of nowhere to find one in four bouts in a row. This one would go on to win him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus -- his second in as many fights. To be fair, the UFC has matched him up against one-dimensional strikers this entire streak (Sutherland, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Don'Tale Mayes, Junior Tafa), but that doesn't make it any less impressive. It will be interesting to see how Walker goes about things when he is inevitably forced to change up the game plan.