Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Salsa Boy
Dominican Republic
Gets big win on short notice
Cortes-Acosta defeated Shamil Gaziev via KO (punch) at 1:22 of Round 1 at UFC Qatar on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Cortes-Acosta jumped at the opportunity to step in late for Serghei Spivac, and the end result was his fourth win of the calendar year and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. He dropped Gaziev early, and while he was able to get back to his feet once, he was clearly compromised. Another big right hand ended the proceedings for good, and referee Lukasz Bosacki did a great job jumping in to prevent any further damage. Cortes-Acosta absorbed little damage here and has already announced his intentions to fight on any of the final cards of 2025 in which an opportunity becomes available.
Cortes-Acosta jumped at the opportunity to step in late for Serghei Spivac, and the end result was his fourth win of the calendar year and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. He dropped Gaziev early, and while he was able to get back to his feet once, he was clearly compromised. Another big right hand ended the proceedings for good, and referee Lukasz Bosacki did a great job jumping in to prevent any further damage. Cortes-Acosta absorbed little damage here and has already announced his intentions to fight on any of the final cards of 2025 in which an opportunity becomes available.
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Filling in for Spivac
Cortes-Acosta will fight Shamil Gaziev at UFC Qatar on Saturday, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
The 34-year-old heavyweight will be filling in for Serghei Spivac, who was forced to withdraw from the bout for unspecified reasons. Saturday will mark Cortes-Acosta's second fight in just four weeks, and he will enter having won six of his last seven.
The 34-year-old heavyweight will be filling in for Serghei Spivac, who was forced to withdraw from the bout for unspecified reasons. Saturday will mark Cortes-Acosta's second fight in just four weeks, and he will enter having won six of his last seven.
Earns stoppage in awkward finish
Cortes-Acosta defeated Ante Delija via KO (punches) at 3:59 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Good luck finding an ending as strange as this one. Waldo and Delija fought to even terms early on before Cortes-Acosta was pinned along the fence and found himself eating countless unanswered blows. Referee Mark Smith stepped in, seemingly signaling the end of the fight. Yet, with Waldo protesting for an illegal eye poke, Smith consulted the replay and it was deemed an accidental foul led to the sequence. Cortes-Acosta was given another minute or so and agreed to continue despite being clearly hampered. He proceeded to crush Delija with a right hand right after action resumed, leading to the official end of the fight. Regardless of how it came about, it's a massive result for Waldo on the heels of his unanimous decision loss to Sergei Pavlovich in August. He'll also earn a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for this come-from-behind effort.
Good luck finding an ending as strange as this one. Waldo and Delija fought to even terms early on before Cortes-Acosta was pinned along the fence and found himself eating countless unanswered blows. Referee Mark Smith stepped in, seemingly signaling the end of the fight. Yet, with Waldo protesting for an illegal eye poke, Smith consulted the replay and it was deemed an accidental foul led to the sequence. Cortes-Acosta was given another minute or so and agreed to continue despite being clearly hampered. He proceeded to crush Delija with a right hand right after action resumed, leading to the official end of the fight. Regardless of how it came about, it's a massive result for Waldo on the heels of his unanimous decision loss to Sergei Pavlovich in August. He'll also earn a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for this come-from-behind effort.
To fight Ante Delija
Cortes-Acosta will fight Ante Delija at UFC Vegas 110 on Nov. 1, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Cortes-Acosta was riding a five-fight winning streak before running into Sergei Pavlovich in August in what was a loss via unanimous decision. However, Cortes-Acosta is still performing at an elite level for his age, though he should have his hands full with Delija who is coming off a win against Marcin Tybura.
Cortes-Acosta was riding a five-fight winning streak before running into Sergei Pavlovich in August in what was a loss via unanimous decision. However, Cortes-Acosta is still performing at an elite level for his age, though he should have his hands full with Delija who is coming off a win against Marcin Tybura.
Doesn't do enough in Shanghai
Cortes-Acosta lost to Sergei Pavlovich via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Shanghai on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Entering on a five-fight winning streak and determined to prove himself as a contender, Cortes-Acosta was by no means outclassed, but it was clear who the better fighter was Saturday. Cortes-Acosta actually got off to a good start, slightly winning the significant striking battle in Round 1 and confidently walking his opponent down. Pavlovich started to figure him out as the fight progressed, however, and by Round 3, Cortes-Acosta was on the wrong end of a more lopsided beating, though he still had enough in the tank to point at the ground when the 10-second clapper went off. Pavlovich rightfully didn't take the risk, and there was no question it was his fight when it went to the judges. Despite the setback, there's likely plenty left in the tank for the 33-year-old heavyweight, who should remain in the top-10 after Monday's rankings are published.
Entering on a five-fight winning streak and determined to prove himself as a contender, Cortes-Acosta was by no means outclassed, but it was clear who the better fighter was Saturday. Cortes-Acosta actually got off to a good start, slightly winning the significant striking battle in Round 1 and confidently walking his opponent down. Pavlovich started to figure him out as the fight progressed, however, and by Round 3, Cortes-Acosta was on the wrong end of a more lopsided beating, though he still had enough in the tank to point at the ground when the 10-second clapper went off. Pavlovich rightfully didn't take the risk, and there was no question it was his fight when it went to the judges. Despite the setback, there's likely plenty left in the tank for the 33-year-old heavyweight, who should remain in the top-10 after Monday's rankings are published.
Booked vs. Pavlovich
Cortes-Acosta will face Sergei Pavlovich in a heavyweight bout in Shanghai on Aug. 23, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Cortes-Acosta has stacked five straight victories in the UFC, most recently disposing of Serghei Spivac via unanimous decision on June 7. He hasn't lost since April of 2023, when Marcos Rogerio de Lima bested him. He'll now face a fighter in Pavlovich who also has seven UFC wins to his name but is coming off a victory that snapped a two-bout losing streak.
Cortes-Acosta has stacked five straight victories in the UFC, most recently disposing of Serghei Spivac via unanimous decision on June 7. He hasn't lost since April of 2023, when Marcos Rogerio de Lima bested him. He'll now face a fighter in Pavlovich who also has seven UFC wins to his name but is coming off a victory that snapped a two-bout losing streak.