Valter Walker
The Clean Monster
Russia
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.
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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.
New opponent scheduled
Walker is scheduled to compete against Louie Sutherland in a heavyweight fight at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 25, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Even though Walker will not fight Mohammed Usman, a fight scheduled for UFC Rio last Saturday, the former can get another bout in before October ends. Walker's new opponent is a promotion debutant 10-3 with eight KO/TKOs but three decision losses.
Even though Walker will not fight Mohammed Usman, a fight scheduled for UFC Rio last Saturday, the former can get another bout in before October ends. Walker's new opponent is a promotion debutant 10-3 with eight KO/TKOs but three decision losses.
No longer fighting Usman
Walker will no longer fight Mohammed Usman (undisclosed) at UFC Rio on Saturday, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Usman was forced to withdraw from the fight for unknown reasons, leaving Walker without an opponent just two days before the event. The 27-year-old heavyweight is hopeful that the UFC will find a replacement, though that may be a tough ask on such short notice.
Usman was forced to withdraw from the fight for unknown reasons, leaving Walker without an opponent just two days before the event. The 27-year-old heavyweight is hopeful that the UFC will find a replacement, though that may be a tough ask on such short notice.
Taking on Usman
Walker will face Mohammed Usman in a heavyweight bout at UFC Rio on Oct. 11, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Walker is coming off three straight wins after dropping his UFC debut. He most recently bested Kennedy Nzechukwu with a Heel Hook in the first round of a fight in July. Sitting at 3-1 in the promotion, Walker will look for win number four against an opponent in Usman who is coming off a win that snapped a two-bout losing streak.
Walker is coming off three straight wins after dropping his UFC debut. He most recently bested Kennedy Nzechukwu with a Heel Hook in the first round of a fight in July. Sitting at 3-1 in the promotion, Walker will look for win number four against an opponent in Usman who is coming off a win that snapped a two-bout losing streak.