TLDR
- Valter Walker believes Josh Hokit deliberately avoided naming him when calling out multiple UFC fighters on The Ariel Helwani Show
- Walker claims Hokit wouldn’t survive a verbal exchange because Walker would expose his character act
- The two heavyweight contenders have been feuding for months but have never fought in the octagon
- Walker questioned whether Hokit earned his title shot against Ciryl Gane, suggesting his trash talk secured it rather than wins
- Despite their rivalry, Walker defended Hokit against critics and said people underestimate him as a fighter
Sources: yardbarker.com | mmasucka.com
Valter Walker believes Josh Hokit intentionally left him off a recent list of fighters he called out. The Brazilian heavyweight contender says Hokit knows he couldn’t survive a verbal exchange with him.
Hokit appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show and took shots at multiple UFC fighters including Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov, Alex Pereira, Jon Jones, and Ilia Topuria. Walker’s name was noticeably absent from the list.
Walker Says He Would Expose Hokit’s Act
Walker responded on social media to explain why Hokit avoided mentioning him. He wrote that Hokit wouldn’t be able to handle facing him at a press conference or anywhere else.
😳‼️Valter Walker says the heel hook days are over, and it’s time to stand and bang.
“No more heel hooks. If you’re gonna fight me it’s gonna be on the feet only.
I wanna show off my Muay Thai, my striking, if we fight we stand and bang.”
🎥 : @JakeNoecker / @Home_of_Fight pic.twitter.com/20q9q48chF
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 1, 2026
“Because he wouldn’t be able to stand listening to me at a press conference or anywhere else, cause that character would go straight to hell when I start,” Walker posted on X. “U are real cute, taco boy.”
The two heavyweights have been feuding for several months but have never fought inside the octagon. Their rivalry reportedly began after Hokit’s UFC debut last year when he warned he would beat up another Brazilian fighter.
Hokit currently holds a 10-0 record and has finished three of his four UFC opponents. He sits at number six in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Walker has a 16-1 record and is ranked number 11 in the division. He has won five straight fights by submission since losing his promotional debut in 2024.
Title Shot Draws Criticism
Hokit will fight Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. The title became available after Tom Aspinall vacated the championship.
Walker questioned whether Hokit earned the title shot based on merit. He suggested that Hokit’s controversial trash talk and public persona helped him secure the fight rather than his wins.
“Just win any of the top 10 and talk some schizophrenic sh** that you win the title shot?” Walker posted in response to a fan who pointed out their ranking difference.
Despite their feud, Walker has defended Hokit against critics who dismiss him as just a trash talker. He said people underestimate Hokit because of how much he talks.
“I think people underestimate Josh Hokit because how he talks a lot of sh*t, people take him as a clown,” Walker said. “I don’t think Ciryl Gane will get an easy win.”
Walker acknowledged that Hokit trains hard and knows what he’s doing as a fighter. However, he stopped short of predicting Hokit would become undisputed champion.
The feud between Walker and Hokit appears likely to continue after Hokit’s title fight. Walker’s social media post suggests he is angling for a matchup if Hokit wins the belt in November.
Hokit is known for his wrestling skills while Walker has earned recognition for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu and leg-based submission attacks. Both fighters are viewed as potential future champions in the heavyweight division.
Walker has also criticized Hokit for controversial socio-political statements that many view as discriminatory. The Brazilian fighter has consistently referenced these comments in their ongoing war of words.
Hokit adopted the persona “The Incredible Hok” and has drawn comparisons to Chael Sonnen for his approach to trash talk. He even joked about UFC CEO Dana White secretly admiring him despite publicly condemning his controversial statements.
Walker’s most recent submission wins have all come by leg-based attacks, making him one of the most dangerous grapplers in the heavyweight division.
