Valter Walker wrote his identify within the historical past books by scoring consecutive heel hook finishes contained in the octagon, a primary for UFC heavyweights, and he desires to make that his factor.
Walker compelled Junior Tafa to stop within the first spherical of their UFC 305 battle in August 2024. Six months later, Don’Tale Mayes fell in his lure and tapped simply 77 seconds into the battle. The Brazilian heavyweight returns to motion at UFC Nashville, taking up Kennedy Nzechukwu this Saturday evening, and revealed he seems to be as much as veteran Rousimar Palhares when he goes for finishes of that nature.
“‘Toquinho’ caught everybody with that transfer,” Walker instructed MMA Preventing. “I watched his highlights since I used to be 14, 15 years outdated. I’m such an enormous fan of his. I by no means anticipated to be identified for this transfer, by no means anticipated to be in comparison with him. I’m his fan. He’s an idol to me. That’s one thing I did lots within the gymnasium however by no means had the boldness to do in a battle.”
Palhares, a UFC veteran and former World Collection of Preventing welterweight champion, scored submissions in 16 of his 19 MMA wins, together with 10 heel hooks. He grew to become a controversial determine within the MMA spare for allegedly holding submissions too lengthy, which led to his launch from the UFC and WSOF.
“I don’t assume anybody does it higher than me, particularly at heavyweight,” Walker stated. “When individuals get too afraid of one thing, that’s what finally ends up taking place. [Nzechukwu] is unquestionably coaching that. I believe that can open extra holes for me to throw a hand or attempt one thing else. I imagine he might be so anxious concerning the takedowns and on the bottom that he’ll find yourself making a mistake, and that can give me a possibility.”
Walker stated it’s arduous to coach that transfer within the gymnasium as a result of one second extra may end in critical damage, and for that purpose he has modified the best way he practices the assault.
“I harm a good friend within the gymnasium as a result of he tried to defend it and stopped rolling,” Walker stated. “He rolled, I rolled, after which I assumed he was going to roll once more however he didn’t. That transfer may be very harmful. Once I do it within the gymnasium and my pals defend it, that’s as a result of I didn’t apply drive. I ended utilizing drive within the gymnasium after I harm this good friend of mine.”
Walker has grew to become a fan favourite within the Brazilian MMA area for his humorous posts on social media, and stated that some members of his crew — even his spouse — tried to persuade him to create a scary persona as an alternative.
“I needed to behave like this imply man that may harm you, that places fears in others, however I’m not that man,” Walker stated. “My spouse and my coach need me to cease joking round and act so individuals could be afraid of me, that I can go there and break all people’s foot, nevertheless it’s not who I’m. I can’t try this shit.
“In Australia, [Tafa] talked a bunch of crap about me and I felt I may break his foot, however there’s one thing within me, you recognize? I really feel dangerous. He screamed and I let it go. The subsequent one [Mayes] solely tapped as soon as. You must faucet 3 times. He tapped as soon as and I may go and break his foot, however I really feel dangerous. It’s such a critical damage in case you try this, you recognize? Life is a boomerang. You do one thing dangerous to somebody, you pay the value down the road. I imagine in God, however I imagine hell is on Earth too. You’ll pay the value right here earlier than you die.”
