Valter Walker, an emerging talent who signed with the UFC, shares a significant connection with renowned fighter Johnny Walker - they are half-brothers.
During his ascent in the regional ranks en route to the UFC, Valter frequently competed under the name 'Valter Ignacio.' As a heavyweight fighter, he boasts an impressive record of 11 wins with no losses, including seven finishes.
Valter Walker has not competed professionally since signing with the UFC. In his last outing in June 2023, Valter secured the Titan FC heavyweight championship with a fourth-round stoppage victory over Alex Nicholson.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Valter's highly anticipated promotional debut against Jake Collier was expected to take place at a UFC Fight Night event on September 23. However, it was derailed due to unforeseen circumstances. This unfortunate turn of events has delayed his introduction to the UFC stage.
As Valter continues his journey in the sport, fans and enthusiasts alike remain intrigued by his connection to Johnny Walker and eagerly anticipate his future performances inside the Octagon. With an undefeated professional record and an undeniable passion for the sport, the 25-year-old is poised to make a name for himself in the UFC, following in the footsteps of his accomplished half-brother.
Johnny Walker is finally on the verge of achieving his true potential as an MMA fighter
Johnny Walker's arrival in the UFC was a highly anticipated affair. The young Brazilian came into the UFC with a 14-3 professional MMA record and seemed poised to become a champion with back-to-back knockout wins over Khalil Rountree, Justin Ledet and Misha Cirkunov during his initial run with the promotion.
At 6'-5" tall, Walker had the physical attributes, power and the skill to match the divisional GOAT Jon Jones in the cage. However, a first-round TKO loss to Corey Andreson set him up for a series of losses over the next few years. Walker went 1-4 under the UFC umbrella and produced some unimpressive performances.
But starting in 2023, the Brazilian fighter found his rhythm in the UFC light heavyweight division. He has scored three consecutive wins over Ion Cutelaba, Paul Craig and Anthony Smith in most recent outings.
As a result of this, Johnny Walker's stock has risen once again. He is set to take on former title challenger Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 294 on October 21. A win over the Dagestani powerhouse will put Walker in title contention, something he was expected to achieve while Jon Jones still ruled the division.