Valter Walker names Fabricio Werdum as heavyweight GOAT: "It's about who you submitted"
The Brazilian heavyweight has won his last five fights by first-round submission but doesn't believe he is close to Werdum's level.
Valter Walker is on an impressive submission streak. The Brazilian has won all of his last five bouts with first-round submissions, tying Demian Maia as the only fighter to achieve such a sequence in the UFC's modern era. Despite the achievement, Walker doesn't think it places him among the UFC's greatest grapplers. In fact, "The Foot Hunter" believes that what matters most isn't the number of submissions, but rather who you submit. With that in mind, Walker considers Fabricio Werdum the greatest heavyweight of all time.
Valter Walker Explains Fabricio Werdum's GOAT Status
Several UFC fighters have recorded a high number of submission victories. However, Walker believes the quality of the opponents is more important than the number itself. Speaking to MMA Fighting, the Brazilian was asked about his own submission record and immediately pointed to Werdum as the best example of what he considers a true heavyweight legacy.
"For me, it's not about how many submissions you have, but who you submitted," Walker began. "You didn't mention his name, but I will. To me, the best of them all is Werdum because it's about who Werdum submitted, not how many submissions he has. Werdum submitted Fedor Emelianenko, he submitted Cain Velasquez. So, to me, Werdum is the greatest heavyweight of all time."
A former UFC heavyweight champion, Werdum has indeed submitted some of the biggest names in MMA. During his UFC run, "Vai Cavalo" collected submission victories against Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, Cain Velasquez, Walt Harris and Alexander Gustafsson. Before joining the UFC, Werdum also submitted Tom Erikson, Alistair Overeem and none other than Fedor Emelianenko, handing the Russian legend his first defeat in almost 10 years.
Valter Walker Doesn't See Himself at Werdum's Level
Despite his five-fight winning streak with all victories coming by first-round submissions, Walker believes he still has a long way to go before reaching Werdum's level. The Brazilian acknowledges that he is accomplishing plenty at 28 years old, but also recognizes that his current submission record does not carry the same weight as Werdum's victories over established legends.
"It would be an honor for me to match him, but I don't think I'm even close to his level," Walker said. "I still have a long road ahead of me. I'm young, I'm 28 years old. [...] I'm honest. I know I'm submitting a lot of guys, but they're guys who, honestly, don't really have big names yet, you know? It's an achievement, but it's not an achievement like Werdum's, for example. When I set a goal, I look at the very best. And to me, the best is Fabricio Werdum."
Walker may not believe he has reached Werdum's level yet, but his recent run has already put him among the most dangerous submission artists in the heavyweight division. With five consecutive first-round submissions, the Brazilian is building an impressive record of his own. The quality of the names on that record may change as his career progresses, and Walker clearly hopes that one day they will be enough to put his legacy in the same conversation as Werdum's.
