Valter Walker vows to break Josh Hokit's foot in UFC grudge match

Valter Walker has warned Josh Hokit that a broken foot awaits him if the two heavyweights meet inside the Octagon.

Walker, a Brazilian submission specialist with four consecutive heel hook finishes in the UFC, told Home of Fight that he plans to ignore any tap from Hokit and send the undefeated American to surgery. The threat stems from comments Hokit reportedly made about Brazil before his Dana White's Contender Series fight against Guilherme Uriel last year, per Sherdog.

"This guy is no problem for me," Walker said. "If I take his leg and he taps, I don't gonna let him go. He talked shit about my country. He talked shit about Brazilian people. Before, when my leg was broken, he called my name on the microphone. But step by step, one day, we are gonna meet in the Octagon. This is all what matters. One day, his foot is gonna be mine."

Walker's heel hook streak sets up heavyweight grudge match

Hokit has carved a path to the top of the heavyweight rankings with wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis in his last two outings, improving to 10-0 overall. His rise has been marked by divisive trash talk that Walker says crossed a line when it targeted his home country.

Walker suffered the only loss of his professional career in his UFC debut in 2024 but has since rattled off four straight heel hook victories. The approach — and his stated refusal to release a submission even after a tap — recalls the infamous tactics of Rousimar Palhares, who was released from multiple promotions for holding leglocks beyond the point of surrender.

Walker faces Thomas Petersen at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 at Etihad Arena.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — UFC heavyweight vows to break Josh Hokit’s foot if they fight