Valter Walker, riding a five-fight first-round submission winning streak in the UFC heavyweight division, has publicly targeted Derrick Lewis as his preferred next opponent. Walker told MMA Junkie he is targeting a return in October or November and views the stylistic contrast — his leg-lock game against Lewis's record-setting knockout power — as a compelling matchup. Lewis or fellow rising contender Josh Hokit are the two names Walker has his sights set on.
Valter Walker has set his sights on Derrick Lewis, publicly calling out the veteran heavyweight and naming him as his preferred next opponent as Walker looks to build on one of the more eye-catching streaks in the division.
Walker, nicknamed "The Clean Monster," enters the call-out riding a five-fight first-round submission winning streak inside the UFC. The 28-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Gor MMA, carries a 16-1-0 professional record and currently sits ranked tenth in the heavyweight division. At six-foot-six with a 78-inch reach, Walker presents a sizeable frame, and his numbers back up the highlight reel — he averages 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts submissions at a rate of 2.5 per 15 minutes, a pace that reflects his leg-lock-heavy approach. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Walker indicated he is targeting a return in October or November and framed the stylistic contrast between his grappling game and Lewis's knockout power as the compelling hook for the fight.
Lewis, known as "The Black Beast," is a 41-year-old American fighter out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai who holds a 29-14-0 record and sits twelfth in the heavyweight rankings. Standing six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach, Lewis has built a career around his record-setting knockout power, landing 2.46 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. His submission attempt rate is effectively zero, making the potential clash with Walker's submission-focused offense a genuinely lopsided stylistic contrast on the ground.
Walker also mentioned fellow ranked heavyweight Josh Hokit as a secondary target. Hokit holds an unbeaten 5-0-0 record and is currently ranked fourth in the division at just 28 years old.
Why it matters
- Walker's submission streak makes him one of the more dangerous grapplers in the heavyweight division, and a win over a name like Lewis would significantly elevate his profile.
- Lewis, ranked twelfth, offers Walker a high-recognition opponent whose zero submission attempts per 15 minutes could play directly into Walker's strengths.
- Hokit's fourth-place ranking represents a steeper climb but would immediately thrust Walker into title contention conversation.
