Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UFC Heavyweight Valter Walker Set for Openweight Grappling Match With Zion Clark on Friday

Viral buzz propelled the booking, raising questions about spectacle after Walker used disability-focused humor.

Overview

  • Karate Combat confirmed the two-round, five-minute openweight grappling contest for Feb. 13 at the Telemundo Center in Miami, with an extra round if scored a draw.
  • Karate Combat president Asim Zaidi said he offered the matchup after noticing social-media momentum that tagged Clark as a potential opponent for Walker.
  • Walker enters as a ranked UFC heavyweight with a 15-1 record and a recent run of first-round heel-hook submissions that built his 'Foot Hunter' reputation.
  • Clark, who was born with caudal regression syndrome, wrestled at Kent State, is 1-0 in MMA, and says he has trained with heavier partners to prepare for Walker’s size and strength.
  • Walker’s mocking comments about Clark’s disability drew a public rebuttal from Clark, and some coverage has characterized the booking as a sensational matchup rather than a traditional contest.