UFC Abu Dhabi: Valter Walker picks up 5th 1st-round leg lock submission in a row, calls out Herb Dean

Valter Walker extended his dominant run at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, recording his fifth consecutive first-round submission victory—this time against Thomas Petersen in a heavyweight preliminary bout.

Walker, now 5-1 in the UFC, faced an early scramble when Petersen secured a takedown within the opening minute. Rather than panic, Walker transitioned fluidly, initially hunting a heel hook before pivoting to a calf slicer. The submission forced an immediate tap at 92 seconds. The finish marks Walker's first submission win without a heel hook in this streak; his previous four first-round victories came by heel hook against Junior Tafa, Don'Tale Mayes, Kennedy Nzechukwu, and Louie Sutherland.

Walker's five-fight finishing streak is currently the longest active win streak in the UFC's heavyweight division, a remarkable achievement that underscores his grappling prowess and composure under pressure. For Petersen, the loss is notable: he drops to 3-4 and suffers his first submission defeat across 16 professional fights.

In the post-fight moment, Walker made an unusual call-out, directing his attention toward veteran referee Herb Dean. Walker blamed Dean for what he viewed as a poor stoppage in the interim heavyweight title fight between his fellow Brazilian Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane at UFC White House. Speaking in Portuguese, Walker said Dean "screwed over our Indian" and vowed to seek revenge, an outburst that highlights the frustration some fighters feel over contentious refereeing decisions. Whether the callout gains traction remains to be seen, but Walker's submission excellence has already made him one of the division's most intriguing prospects.