Walker vows to hold Hokit's heel hook until his foot breaks in future UFC clash

Valter Walker has issued a graphic threat toward unbeaten UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit, vowing to hold a heel hook submission past the tap and send the American to surgery if the two ever meet inside the Octagon.

Walker, who has finished all four of his UFC victories via heel hook, told Home of Fight that Hokit’s comments about Brazil — made during Hokit’s Dana White’s Contender Series campaign against Guilherme Uriel last year — have made the rivalry personal. “This guy, Josh Hokit, I can break his leg,” Walker said. “Please, when he taps, I don’t gonna let him go. I’m going to send him to surgery, brother. He talked shit about my country. He talked shit about Brazilian people. One day, his foot is gonna be mine.”

The threat draws an obvious parallel to Rousimar Palhares, the Brazilian submission specialist who was ultimately released from the UFC for repeatedly refusing to release leg locks after opponents tapped. Walker may need to weigh that precedent carefully if the matchup ever materialises.

Hokit (10-0) has surged into the upper tier of the heavyweight division on the back of back-to-back stoppages of former contenders Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis, pairing the results with a confrontational media presence that has polarised fans and opponents alike.

Walker (15-1) suffered his only professional defeat on his UFC debut in 2024 but has since reeled off four consecutive finishes, each one ending on the mat. The Brazilian’s heel hook has become his calling card, and he is confident it would be the decisive weapon against Hokit’s style.

Before any potential showdown with Hokit can be discussed seriously, Walker has business to attend to at UFC Abu Dhabi on 25 July at Etihad Arena, where he faces Thomas Petersen (11-4).