Valter Walker keeps telling opponents to expect the unexpected on the ground, and once again, he backed up those words inside the Octagon.
The Brazilian heavyweight added another first-round submission to his growing collection on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 282 in Abu Dhabi. This time, he forced Thomas Petersen to tap with a rare calf slicer, marking only the fourth time the technique has ended a UFC fight.
Walker finds another way to finish
Walker appeared to be setting up another heel hook, a move that has become his trademark since joining the UFC. But when Petersen attempted to escape, Walker smoothly transitioned to a different submission that ended the fight.
“If you’re ready for the heel hook, I have a variation to find a way to win the fight.”
“If the fight is on the ground, be careful.”
The victory improved Walker’s UFC record to 5-1 and extended his current winning streak to five fights. Every one of those victories has come by first-round submission.
Eyes already on another Abu Dhabi appearance
Walker, the younger brother of longtime UFC veteran Johnny Walker, has quickly developed a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous submission specialists. After dropping his promotional debut by decision in 2024, he has not looked back.
Now 28 years old, Walker is already thinking about his next trip to the Octagon. He hopes to return when the UFC heads back to Abu Dhabi for UFC 333 in October, where he earned a first-round heel hook victory over Louie Sutherland and a performance bonus last year.
“I just want to relax a little bit now, take a holiday with my wife, but I want to fight again in October here.”