The Brazilian heavyweight made history Saturday at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, submitting promotional debutant Louie Sutherland with a first-round heel hook to extend his unprecedented streak to four consecutive victories via the devastating submission. With the finish, Walker now ties Rousimar Palhares for the most heel hook submissions in UFC history across all weight classes and stands alone as the undisputed king of the technique at heavyweight.​

The 27-year-old “Clean Monster” needed just over two minutes to secure the finish, methodically closing distance on the Scottish striker before dragging the fight to the canvas and immediately attacking the leg. As Sutherland scrambled to escape, Walker secured the position with surgical precision, inverting his body and applying torque to the ankle joint. The tap came quickly, and with it, a new chapter in UFC submission history.​

Walker's entrance to the ceremonial weigh-ins Friday had already telegraphed his intentions. The 6-foot-6 heavyweight wore a chain around his neck featuring a rubber replica of a severed human foot, a macabre calling card that has become his signature. The message was unmistakable: Sutherland's foot would be the next addition to his collection.​

The Streak That Rewrote the Record Books

Walker's historic run began at UFC 305 in August 2024, when he submitted Junior Tafa with a verbal heel hook at 4:56 of the first round. That victory announced his arrival as a submission threat in a division traditionally dominated by knockout artists and wrestlers. The technique itself was rare enough at heavyweight—only three heel hook finishes had been recorded in the division's history before Walker's emergence.​

The streak continued with increasing efficiency. At UFC Fight Night in February 2025, Walker needed just 1:17 to force Don'Tale Mayes to tap from the same submission. Five months later at UFC on ESPN 70 in Nashville, he reached peak form, submitting Kennedy Nzechukwu in a blistering 54 seconds with another textbook heel hook. Each finish came faster than the last, each opponent more helpless against the Brazilian's relentless leg attacks.​​

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Saturday's submission of Sutherland not only continued the pattern but cemented Walker's place in the record books. His four consecutive heel hook victories represent the longest such streak in UFC history, and his tying of Palhares' all-time mark of four total heel hook finishes places him in rarified air. What makes the accomplishment even more remarkable is that Walker achieved this feat at heavyweight, where submission specialists have historically struggled to impose their will on larger, more powerful opponents.​

What's Next for the Heel Hook King?

Walker's success represents a seismic shift in how the heavyweight division approaches combat. For decades, the blueprint for success at 265 pounds centered on knockout power, wrestling dominance, or a combination of both. Submissions, particularly leg locks, were considered high-risk maneuvers better suited for lighter weight classes where fighters possessed the speed and flexibility to execute them safely.​

With four consecutive first-round heel hook finishes to his name and a 14-1 professional record, Walker has positioned himself as one of the most intriguing contenders in the heavyweight division. His market value has never been higher, and calls for a ranked opponent in his next outing have grown louder with each successive finish.​

The question facing UFC matchmakers is whether anyone in the top 15 can solve the puzzle Walker presents. His striking remains a work in progress, but his ability to find takedowns and implement his submission game has proven impossible for opponents to defend. Heavyweight contenders will now face a dilemma: invest significant training time into leg-lock defense for a potential Walker matchup, or risk becoming the next name added to his highlight reel.​

For Walker, the path forward is clear. One more heel hook would give him sole possession of the all-time UFC record, surpassing Palhares and establishing a mark that may never be broken. But his ambitions extend beyond records and statistics. With each victory, he moves closer to title contention in a division desperate for fresh challengers and compelling storylines.

Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, Valter Walker didn't just win a fight. He made history, rewrote the heavyweight playbook, and proved that in mixed martial arts, evolution never stops. The foot collector has arrived, and the rest of the division has been put on notice.