Valter Walker is not touted as a giant risk within the UFC heavyweight division like Josh Hokitt or Gable Stevenson.
The Brazilian expertise returned to the cage at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, taking up Thomas Petersen after scoring 4 consecutive heel hook finishes within the Octagon, and informed MMA Preventing that if he wins within the UAE, he can be glad to face both Hokit or Stevenson subsequent.
“I do not assume he is a tricky struggle for me,” Walker mentioned of Hokit. “Actually, I do not assume he is the fighter that individuals think about him to be. Properly, he is small. I am not intimidated by the man in any respect. Gable Stevenson, Josh Hokit. Folks say, ‘He is a monster, the Olympic wrestling champion.'” Oh, I watched Gable’s debut and wasn’t that impressed. I did not perceive the hype in any respect. ”
“Similar factor with Josh Hokit,” he continued. “Martial arts followers do not actually perceive martial arts, do they? He beat Curtis Blaydes. I feel that was the most important win of his profession. He definitely beat him convincingly. However I nonetheless do not perceive how Curtis Blaydes misplaced to him like that.”
Hokit is undefeated within the sport, 4-0 within the UFC, together with his final two wins coming in opposition to Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis, whereas Steveson stopped Elisha Ellison in his Octagon debut, bettering to 4-0 as knowledgeable.
“I am not fearful of Josh Hokitt or Gable Stevenson in any respect,” Walker mentioned. “If that is your subsequent struggle, convey them in. Perhaps Gable Stevenson, Josh Hokitt, Vitor Petrino. I am going to take all of them. If we win this Saturday, e-book a matchup with considered one of them subsequent. I am going to go after them straight away.”
“I feel there’s an enormous likelihood if the 2 of us (Hokit and I) struggle. We’re speaking co-main occasion or major occasion, as a result of we discuss trash to one another. We’ll most likely want safety. I actually imagine we have now the potential to placed on an ideal present for the followers.”
Walker mentioned it might be a “enormous alternative” for Hokitt, though he didn’t know if he can be prepared to play him subsequent, given his previous wins over top-ranked Blaydes and Lewis whereas Hokitt was out with a damaged leg.
The identical goes for Stevenson. He’s surrounded by hype for his previous accomplishments in wrestling and the truth that he’s coached by former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones.
“That is the way you catch large fish,” Walker mentioned of Stevenson. “You go after a man with a giant ego, proper? That is the traditional means. I’ve seen it occur lots. A man says, ‘I will beat that man.'” I am going to offer you an instance from my very own expertise.[Tallison Teixeira]used to say, “In the event you’re prepared, you possibly can beat Pavlovic.” And what occurred? My brother used to say, “I will be the man that beats Jon Jones.” I am simply utilizing my very own actuality, examples I’ve seen. Perhaps Gable is considering the identical factor. I mentioned, “I will beat this man simply. You assume he will get to my toes? I will take him out.” That is my second to make a reputation for myself. That is how the enterprise works, proper?
“Are you able to think about? I punched (Steveson), climbed on the cage and spat in Jon Jones’ face. Rattling it! Individuals are holding Jon Jones again whereas I am yelling that I am the GOAT and telling Jon Jones to fuck off. All of the hype goes to return at me. That. However that man… I do not know if he has a superb supervisor. However does he have a superb supervisor? If he would not, it provides me an opportunity.
