Valter Walker isn't sold on Josh Hokit and Gable Steveson as big threats in the UFC heavyweight division.
MMA
Valter Walker not scared of ‘small’ Josh Hokit, unimpressed by Gable Steveson’s UFC debut: ‘I’ll take all of them’
Published
3 weeks agoon
The Brazilian talent returns to the cage Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi, battling Thomas Petersen after scoring four straight heel hook finishes in the octagon, and told MMA Fighting he would be gladly take on either Hokit or Steveson next with a win in the U.A.E.
“I don't think he's a tough fight for me,†Walker said of 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€
“Same with Josh Hokit,†he continued. “Fight fans don't really understand fighting, you know? He beat Curtis Blaydes, I think that's the biggest win of his career. He beat him convincingly, sure. But I still don't know how Curtis Blaydes lost to him like that.â€
Hokit is unbeaten in the sport, and 4-0 in the UFC, with the last two victories coming against Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis, while Steveson stopped Elisha Ellison in his octagon debut to improve to 4-0 as a pro.
“I'm not scared of Josh Hokit or Gable Steveson one bit,†Walker said. “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. I'll go right after them.â€
“I think if the two of us [Hokit and I] fought, it would have huge potential. We're talking co-main event or even main event, because of all the trash we'd talk to each other. We'd probably need security following us around. I really believe we have the potential to put on a great show for the fans.â€
Walker said he's unsure if Hokit would be willing to facing him next given his past wins over top-ranked Blaydes and Lewis during his absence to heal from a broken leg, but would be “a huge opportunity†for him.
The same goes for Steveson, who is surrounded by a hype for his past accomplishments in wrestling and the fact that he's coached by former UFC two division champion Jon Jones.
“That's how you catch a big fish, man,†Walker said of Steveson. “You go after guys with big egos, you know? That's usually how it works. I've seen it happen a lot. A guy says, ‘I'll beat that guy.' I'll use examples from my own experience. [Tallison Teixeira] used to say, ‘If I'm well prepared, I'll beat Pavlovich.' And what happened? My brother used to say, ‘I'm going to be the guy who beats Jon Jones.' I'm just using examples from my own reality, from what I've seen. Maybe Gable is thinking the same thing. ‘I'll beat this guy easily. He thinks he's going to get to my legs? I'll take him out.' That's the moment for me to make a name for myself. That's how the business works, right?â€
“Can you imagine? I beat [Steveson], 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. But I don't know if the guy's… Maybe he has a good manager. I know I have a good manager. But does he have one too? He probably does. If he doesn't, even better, that gives me an opportunity.â€
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MMA
Bellator vet Kimbo Slice Jr. booked against Anderson Silvas son at Brand Risk 15
Published
1 minute agoon
August 11, 2026
the ring.
Gabriel Silva, son of former
Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion Anderson
Silva, will face Kevin
Ferguson Jr., better known as “Baby Slice,†at Brand Risk
Promotions 15 on Aug. 22 in Miami.
Gabriel Silva vs. Kimbo Slice Jr. set for BRP 15
Silva and Ferguson are set to lock horns at BRP 15 later this
month. The former has competed regularly on the influencer boxing
circuit and has previously appeared on Brand Risk cards. He is
coming off a victory over Ben Davis. Meanwhile, Ferguson has
competed in MMA and boxing, including a stint with Bellator
MMA before transitioning toward celebrity and influencer
boxing.
Anderson “The Spider†Silva still holds the record for most
consecutive wins in UFC history, although he's tied with Islam
Makhachev, who could break the Brazilian icon's record at
UFC
330. Meanwhile, Kevin “Kimbo
Slice†Ferguson emerged as a cult favorite in the 2000s,
earning a reputation for his backyard brawls. He featured on “The
Ultimate Fighter†and even had another fight inside the Octagon,
losing to Matt
Mitrione.
Brand Risk 15 is headlined by YouTubers Austin McBroom and Thomas
“FaZe Temperrr†Oliveira. The co-main event features streamer
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy against bodybuilder Larry Wheels.
🚨 BRAND RISK PROMOTIONS EVENT 15 🚨 #BRP15
FULL FIGHT CARD ANNOUNCEMENT 🥊
The full card is set for August 22nd in Miami.
📠Miami, Florida
📅 August 22nd | 7PM EST
🎥 LIVE on all major platforms
â€¼ï¸ FREE TO WATCH pic.twitter.com/iQuZ8UPlMa— Brand Risk Promotions (@BrandRisk)
August 8, 2026
MMA
Why Tom Aspinall backs Islam Makhachev to beat Ian Garry at UFC 330
Published
2 hours agoon
August 10, 2026
Aspinall believes the upcoming
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title fight between
Islam
Makhachev and Ian Garry
will go the distance.
Makhachev (28-1) will put his 170-pound title on the line against
Garry (17-1) in the main event of UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. While
Makhachev is a sizable favorite entering the fight, Garry could
present a tricky matchup for the Russian, given the Irishman's
distance management and reach advantage.
Tom Aspinall predicts Islam Makhachev will defeat Ian Garry by
decision
Aspinall predicts a decision victory for Makhachev. The UFC
heavyweight champion believes the Dagestani is more likely to
dictate the fight than Garry is to land the perfect shot. While
Aspinall admits that he is not fully confident in his prediction,
he doesn't see anyone dethroning Makhachev at welterweight.
“Islam Makhachev, decision,†Aspinall predicted in a recent YouTube
video. “I just think he's got more chance of him controlling the
fight than Ian landing something. That being said, it is completely
possible that Ian can win. I'm not 100% confident in my prediction
either, but I can't think that anybody in the welterweight division
is going to beat Islam at the moment.â€
Garry has nine UFC wins, and his lone career defeat came against
fellow contender Shavkat
Rakhmonov, who is currently sidelined by injury. Meanwhile,
Makhachev has won 16 consecutive UFC bouts since his only
professional loss, which came a decade ago. He defended the UFC
lightweight title four times, the most in the division's history,
before moving up and winning the welterweight title last year.
MMA
Top undefeated prospects collide in Noche UFC 4 featherweight bout
Published
5 hours agoon
August 10, 2026
Bellator vet Kimbo Slice Jr. booked against Anderson Silvas son at Brand Risk 15
Why Tom Aspinall backs Islam Makhachev to beat Ian Garry at UFC 330
Top undefeated prospects collide in Noche UFC 4 featherweight bout
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