Vitor Petrino calls for main event slot after UFC Sacramento, open to Valter Walker fight

Vitor Petrino is eyeing a main event slot after his co-headliner against top-ranked heavyweight Serghei Spivac at UFC Sacramento on August 22. The Brazilian has built momentum at heavyweight since moving up in 2025, compiling a 3-0 record with two finishes and a decision victory over Steven Asplund.

Petrino acknowledged that Spivac exceeds what he expected at this stage of his career. "We're talking about a guy whose only recent losses have been to guys who were really close to fighting for the belt, including the current champion," Petrino told MMA Fighting, noting that facing such a ranked opponent will accelerate both his career trajectory and personal growth as a fighter.

A victory at Golden 1 Center would push Petrino to 4-0 at heavyweight and position him for his stated next goal: a five-round main event fight that tests him against genuine title contention-level opposition. He believes consistent top-15 performances are the path forward. "The closer we get to a title shot becoming a reality, the more ideal it would be to consistently look for five-round fights," he said. Though he declined to name specific targets ahead of Saturday, citing volatility in the UFC's new Meta rankings, Petrino made clear that "anyone ahead of me in the rankings would be an interesting fight."

Pertrino has unfinished business with heavyweight Valter Walker, a rivalry that previously played out on social media and Brazilian news outlets. He wouldn't rule out facing Walker if the exposure justified it, though he'd prioritize even higher-ranked foes. "If a name comes up that I know is going to give me even more exposure, especially a top 5 opponent, then that's definitely a fight I'm interested in."

The heavyweight division has proven far more sustainable for Petrino than light heavyweight, where he endured brutal 66-pound weight cuts—dropping 15 kilograms in the five days before fights. "I remember that if I had to continue fighting at 205, I was going to retire," he said. Petrino's move up followed back-to-back upset losses to Anthony Smith and Dustin Jacoby in 2024, setbacks he now views as necessary catalysts. His recent success—including a war with Asplund regarded as one of 2024's best fights—has validated the division change.