Securing a third consecutive first-round submission victory in a shallower division like the UFC heavyweight division (120,2 kg) might mean a huge leap for many, allowing them to face ranked athletes and move closer to the top of the category, but not for Valter Walker . At least, not yet.
In a very candid interview with 'MMA Fighting' after his victory over Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC Nashville last Saturday (120,2 kg), Walker, 27, expressed his happiness with the result, but not so much with the performance.
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"I'm very happy because I won and got the bonus and a new contract, but I'm not happy with my performance. I thought I would be calmer. The moment I threw the jab and he grabbed my glove, it surprised me. I thought he would back away. I started running and chasing him, and that was a serious mistake. If he were more experienced, someone in the top 10, he would have knocked me out, without a doubt. It was a mistake that I want to get back to the gym and train. I have a lot of wrestling experience, and I don't know what happened. I don't know if it was lack of experience or immaturity because the arena was packed and very noisy. It was a silly mistake, and I'm glad I corrected it quickly."
Looking to get back into action quickly, Valter Walker has pointed to UFC Paris in September, or the still unconfirmed event in Brazil in October, as his targets. His current target is the undefeated Portuguese fighter Mario Pinto , yet another athlete outside the division's rankings.
"I know the guys in the top 10 are on another level. Like I said before, I don't want to be there right now. I've been saying it over and over again. I don't want to be ranked right now. I'm not ready. If I can hold on for a year and a half, two years, great, then I can get ranked. If I get ranked now, I'll be upset. It would be against my will," he said.
Walter Walker's wish comes true and he remains outside the top 15 of the heavyweights
Valter Walker 's hopes of remaining outside the heavyweight rankings, at least for now, have paid off. In an update released in the early hours of Tuesday (15), the Brazilian's name remains outside the top 15 of the category, which had the only change being Tallison Xicão from Bahia losing one position, falling to 14th and swapping places with Martin Buday.
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