Valter Walker's biggest believer? Rousimar Palhares sees a future UFC champion

Rousimar Palhares, a legendary submission specialist, has become an unlikely champion of heavyweight prospect Valter Walker, predicting the Brazilian will one day capture UFC gold. Palhares told Sherdog that Walker possesses the complete skill set required to reach the title picture, particularly in his devastating leg-lock arsenal.

Walker has compiled an extraordinary streak of five consecutive first-round victories, all by leg-based submissions—four by heel hook and one by calf slicer. His relentless submission prowess has earned him the nickname "The Heavyweight Toquinho" in Brazil, a tribute to Palhares himself, whose game Walker has openly modeled after the pioneering grappler.

Palhares, who spent years establishing himself as one of MMA's most feared submission artists, sees in Walker a cleaner version of his own legacy. "It's very rewarding to see him doing this without anyone judging him," Palhares said. "I'm sure he'll become champion because the opponents in the division don't know how to defend it."

Palhares' own UFC journey was turbulent. The Brazilian was released by the promotion in 2013 after refusing to immediately release a heel hook against Mike Pierce despite repeated taps, a controversial moment that ended his UFC run. He later competed in the World Series of Fighting and regional circuits across Russia, Poland, and Italy before retiring in 2024. Over his 19 career victories, sixteen came via submission. Walker's dominance with the same techniques suggests he may avoid the controversy that shadowed Palhares, instead cementing a more celebrated legacy at the sport's highest level.