Rousimar
Palhares believes Valter
Walker has all the tools to become an
Ultimate Fighting Championship champion.
Walker has emerged as one of the promotion’s most unique
heavyweight prospects, compiling five consecutive first-round
victories via leg-based submissions, including four heel hooks and
a calf slicer. The streak has earned the Brazilian the nickname „The Heavyweight Toquinho“ in Brazil, a fitting moniker given that
Walker has openly acknowledged modeling his submission game after
Palhares.
Advertisement
Speaking to Sherdog, the former UFC middleweight said he’s
impressed watching Walker enjoy success with the same submission
that made him one of the sport’s most feared grapplers.
“It’s very rewarding to see him doing this without anyone judging
him,” Palhares said. “I’m sure he’ll become champion because the
opponents in the division don’t know how to defend it.”
Palhares established himself as one of MMA’s most feared submission
specialists, but his UFC tenure was also marked by controversy. The
Brazilian was released by the promotion in 2013 after refusing to
immediately release a heel hook against Mike Pierce
despite repeated taps, prompting the promotion to terminate his
contract.
He later signed with the
World Series of Fighting, though that stint also ended in
controversy. Palhares retired in 2024 after spending the latter
stages of his career competing primarily on regional shows in
Russia, Poland and Italy. Sixteen of his 19 career wins came via
submissions.