UFC Fight Night: Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Closing out the prelims, Thomas Peterson looks to prevent the returning Valter Walker from scoring a record breaking fifth heel hook in a row.
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen facts
What time are Valter Walker and Thomas Petersen expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 282
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov main card
Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman (Welterweight)
Magomed Zaynukov vs Damian Rzepecki (Lightweight)
Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov prelims
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen (Heavyweight)
Dustin Jacoby vs Muhammad Said (Light Heavyweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson (Welterweight)
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)
Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Mike Davis (Lightweight)
Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein (Bantamweight)
Valter Walker: "The Clean Monster" looks to regain momentum after a significant stint on the sidelines
Debuting in the UFC with a unanimous decision defeat to Lukasz Breszki back in 2024, Valter Walker (15-1) has been on an absolute tear ever since. The younger half brother of notorious UFC goofster, Johnny Walker, “The Clean Monster” has reeled off four successive first round victories by way of submission, scoring heel hooks in every single win. An enormous heavyweight standing 6’6”, questions remain as to how Walker will look if he’s unable to latch up his patented submission, but since his loss to Brezski, nobody has been able to stop him. He returns after suffering a broken leg in his last match up against Louie Sutherland, an injury that still didn’t prevent him from scoring what is now his trademark finish.
Thomas Petersen: "The Train" looks to score back-to-back wins for the first time in his UFC tenure
Alternating wins and losses across six fights since graduating to the promotion via the Contender Series, Thomas Peterson (10-4) returns off the back of a decision victory over Guilherme Pat in April. While he has yet to earn a finish in the promotion, the American has scored victories over Mohammed Usman, Don’Tale Mayes, and the aforementioned Pat, while dropping results to Jamal Pogues, Shamil Gaziev, and Vitor Petrino. “The Train” is a solid wrestler for the heavyweight division, leaning heavily on his grappling to score the majority of his UFC victories. However, when he’s unable to get his wrestling going, he’s found himself on the wrong end of some brutal KO defeats.
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen prediction
Despite being on an absolute tear at the moment, Walker is decidedly not infallible. “The Clean Monster” only has one loss on his record, but it came against Lukasz Brzeski; a fighter who washed out of the promotion with a 1-6 record. Walker has clearly improved since then, but he still hasn’t proven himself capable of earning a win against UFC level competition if he’s unable to get his patented heel hook in the early goings.
The rare heavyweight with some solid wrestling, Peterson actually presents an interesting stylistic matchup. “The Train” has excellent takedown defence and has grappled his way to victory in most of his UFC wins. It’s no secret what Walker is going to try and do to him here, so he could conceivably keep this standing or control the Brazilian on the ground to earn the victory. Valker may have pulled off four submissions in a row, but he only had one prior to his current hot streak; he isn’t an elite jiu jitsu player to the point that it’s inconceivable that Peterson could survive in his guard for three rounds.
However, we’re still going with Walker here. He’s got a significant size advantage to go with his current momentum and the level of Peterson’s wins aren’t enough to convince me that he has what it takes to stop the Brazilian from snatching up his trademark technique. Don't be shocked if he leans on his wrestling to score the upset, but the tentative pick is Walker by first round heel hook submission.
Prediction: Valter Walker to win by first round submission
