Valter
Walker isn’t buying the hype surrounding fellow
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweights Josh Hokit
and Gable
Steveson.

The Brazilian contender, who is set to collide with Thomas
Petersen at
UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, dismissed both rising heavyweights in
a recent interview, asserting that neither fighter has done enough
in their careers to convince him that they are serious threats.

Valter Walker says Josh Hokit fight could headline a UFC
card

Walker, who has won four of his past five fights, told MMA Fighting he would gladly take on either
Hokit or Steveson next after his upcoming fight.

“I don't think he's a tough fight for me,†Walker said when asked
about Hokit. “Honestly, I don't think he's the fighter people are
making him out to be. Come on, he's small. I'm not intimidated by
that guy at all. Gable Steveson, Josh Hokit. People say, ‘He's a
monster, an Olympic wrestling champion.' Man, I watched Gable's
debut, and I wasn't that impressed. I didn't get all the hype.â€

Walker then further asserted his willingness to fight either
American heavyweight.

“I'm not scared of Josh Hokit or Gable Steveson one bit,†he added.
“If that's the next fight, bring it on. It can be Gable Steveson,
Josh Hokit, Vitor Petrino. I'll take all of them. If I win this
Saturday, book me against any of those guys next.â€

“The Foot Hunter” claims that a potential fight with Hokit would
generate significant interest.

“We're talking co-main event or even main event, because of all the
trash we'd talk to each other.â€

Walker questions the UFC’s rising heavyweight prospects before
UFC Abu Dhabi

Walker also believes that fighting Steveson would be a great
opportunity, given his wrestling background and ties to former UFC
two-division champion Jon Jones.

“Can you imagine?†Walker said. “I beat him, climb on the cage, and
spit in Jon Jones' face. Damn! People holding Jon Jones back while
I'm screaming that I'm the GOAT and telling Jon Jones to go f*ck
himself. All the hype would come my way. It's an opportunity.â€

Steveson enjoyed a successful UFC debut at
UFC 329, finishing Elisha
Ellison in the first round, while Hokit extended his perfect
record by beating Derrick
Lewis at
UFC Freedom 250. Walker poses a threat to both Americans, given
his grappling prowess, having submitted his last four opponents.

Brandon
Royval once missed out on a main event spot in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship due to his social media
following.

Royval was scheduled to fight Askar
Askarov in October 2022 in Las Vegas. Despite being a
high-ranked flyweight contender, he wasn't given the headliner spot
on the card. Alexa
Grasso headlined the card instead, with the Mexican taking on
Viviane
Araujo.

Brandon Royval explains UFC matchmaking decision involving
Alexa Grasso

Royval recently revealed that the UFC told him Grasso had jumped
ahead of him to take the main event spot because she had
substantially more social media followers. He was livid at losing
out on a headlining role, although it eventually didn't matter as
Askarov pulled out due to weight cut issues.

“Having followers is such a big deal,†Royval told Ariel Helwani.
“I remember they didn’t book me as the main event, and their
reasoning was, I think it was Alexa Grasso, who they boosted in
front of me. They were like, ‘She has way more followers than you.'
But Askarov pulled out of that fight anyway, so it didn't matter. I
was pissed.â€

The incident made Royval (18-9) reconsider the importance of social
media in the modern era. “Raw Dawg†has since started engaging more
consistently with fans online.

Royval was recently in attendance at
UFC 328 this past May at Prudential Center in Newark, New
Jersey. While Royval's name was displayed on the arena's screen,
the camera focused on a woman sitting next to the former
LFA champion. After the moment started gaining traction on
social media, Royval posted a video with the woman, which garnered
massive engagement on his Instagram.

Social media aside, Royval's performances inside the Octagon have
also boosted his profile. He recently scored a submission win over
Lone'er
Kavanagh at
UFC 329 to rebound from a two-fight skid, earning a Fight of
the Night bonus as well.

“I remember they didn’t book me as a main
event and the reasoning was like, ‘I think she has way more
followers than you.'” pic.twitter.com/n1YveVeOU6

— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat)
July 21, 2026

Axel
Sola considers his last defeat in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship an “alpha loss.â€

Sola put his perfect record on the line in a lightweight tilt
against Mason Jones
at
UFC London this past March. Sola and Jones put on a
back-and-forth slugfest for 15 minutes that stole the show. While
the French lightweight suffered a decision loss, both fighters
walked home with an extra $100k each after earning Fight of the
Night honors.

Sola has now outlined the positives of his last bout.

Axel Sola explains the impact of his Mason Jones loss before
UFC Abu Dhabi

Despite losing his undefeated record, Sola believes it made him a
better fighter. The Frenchman also claims that the loss earned him
more stardom and money than his past 11 wins.

“Great experience,†he said in a recent interview when asked about
his last fight. “It definitely made me a better fighter. In one
loss, I had more gain in visibility and money than in 11 wins. So,
it was an alpha loss, let's say.â€

Sola (11-1-1) is now scheduled to face Ismael
Bonfim (20-6) at
UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Bonfim
is 2-3 in the UFC and coming off back-to-back stoppage losses. Sola
is not only looking to get his hands raised, but is eager to do so
in emphatic fashion.

“A win is good, but the quality of the win is even more important,â€
he added. “So, it will all depend on the way I win.â€

“The reward is better if I manage to put on
a show.”

After delivering one of 2026's most exciting fights, Axel Sola
looks to bring the action once again when he faces Ismael
Bonfim at
#UFCAbuDhabi.@VisitAbuDhabi
| @InAbuDhabi |

#InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/lQWxWpFdi7

— UFC News (@UFCNews)
July 21, 2026