Valter Walker did it again at UFC 321, snatching a heel hook submission to beat his opponent Louie Sutherland just 1:24 into their heavyweight match (watch the finish here).
Walker’s quick submission was one of the few highlights from the Abu Dhabi card, and it came with a unique record: “The Clean Monster” is the first heavyweight with four consecutive submission wins, and first UFC fighter with four heel hook submissions in a row.
He’s also tied Rousimar Palhares for most heel hook submissions in the UFC, although it took Palhalres nine fights to get there compared to Walker’s five.
“I don’t know if I’m very happy, or a little bit upset, because now everybody thinks I can only do jiu-jitsu,” Walker joked at the UFC 321 post-fight press conference. “I’m very happy because I did this again. And I want to do this two more times. I want to bring six heels hooks. My country, we have five world titles, and I want to bring six feet to Brazil. Six heel hooks.”
“But I already made history. It’s the first time in history: four submissions in the heavyweight division, and four heel hooks in a row.”
Leg locks are a powerful weapon but they also leave you extremely vulnerable with both hands on your opponent’s feet. That’s okay according to Walker. Live by the heel hook, die by the heel hook.
“I told my coach already, ‘Somebody’s going to ground and pound me and turn me off.’ But I’m not scared of this. I know who’s my coach, who’s my family. I know if something bad happens, there’ll be few changes in my private life.”
Few heavyweights are excited to face Walker, but Hamdy Abdelwahab did make a callout following his UFC 321 prelim win over Chris Barnett. For some reason, he requested a grappling match instead of an MMA fight. Walker isn’t interested in half-measures.
“Let us fight MMA in Doha [Qatar], November,” Walker declared. “If you’re ready and calling my name, let’s fight MMA. I’m an MMA fighter, bro. MMA. My team is Gor MMA. Gor MMA, it’s not Gor Grappling. MMA. I’m an MMA fighter. Let’s fight MMA. I’m ready.”
November is a long way away, so hopefully the fight comes together sooner than that. The UFC heavyweight division could use some more excitement, and Walker definitely provides that.
