Valter Walker books grappling match, guarantees heel hook streak snaps

For the first time in nearly three years, Valter Walker is going to have to figure out a different way to win the next time he competes.

Walker (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has four straight first-round heel hook finishes in the UFC’s heavyweight division. In October, he forced Louie Sutherland to tap in just 84 seconds with his third heel hook of the year and second straight $50,000 bonus. A broken leg suffered just before he won that fight at UFC 321 has kept him from booking an MMA return, but he’ll be back in February in a grappling matchup.

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Walker, though, won’t be able to fall back on his favorite move, though. His opponent, Zion Clark, was born without legs. Despite that, he was a member of Kent State University’s wrestling team and its wheelchair racing team.

Walker and Clark will be part of Karate Combat 59 and the promotion’s Pit Submission series. Their grappling match is set for Feb. 13 in at Univision Studios in Doral, Fla.

Walker and Clark started beefing in October, which is when Clark released alleged direct messages between the two in which Walker agreed to a jij-jitsu match with Clark. One message said he would choke Clark out.