Valter Walker has admitted he is genuinely scared ahead of an unusual grappling contest with Zion Clark. The UFC heavyweight, known for a record run of heel-hook submissions, will face Clark at Karate Combat 59 on February 13. Clark, who was born without legs due to caudal regression syndrome, competes at a high level in wrestling and MMA, and Walker says the matchup leaves him uncertain for the first time in his career. Speaking to Bloody Elbow, Walker said his entire skillset relies on attacking legs and admitted he does not yet know how to approach choking an opponent without them. He described the bout as intense pressure, calling it his first pure grappling match and saying he cannot even think about his upcoming UFC fight with Marcin Tybura. Despite his nerves, Walker showed respect for Clark and jokingly predicted he would find a way to win by controlling Clark’s arms and forcing a submission of sorts, even if it defies his usual style.
