Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Salsa Boy
Dominican Republic
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.
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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.
Pushes winning streak to five
Cortes-Acosta defeated Serghei Spivac via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 316 on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
ANALYSIS
Cortes-Acosta should be thanking his lucky stars that even two of the three judges thought he won this fight, let alone all of them. Waldo didn't get going until Round 2, at which point he upped the output and Spivac slowed down. The entire world seemed to think it was tied 19-19 heading into Round 3, at which point Spivac landed the bigger shots and connected on one huge takedown. None of this ended up mattering in the least because all three judges had him up 20-18 after the first 10 minutes. The 33-year-old Cortes-Acosta has won five straight dating back to August 2023, although he still doesn't feel like much of a contender in a thin heavyweight division.
Cortes-Acosta should be thanking his lucky stars that even two of the three judges thought he won this fight, let alone all of them. Waldo didn't get going until Round 2, at which point he upped the output and Spivac slowed down. The entire world seemed to think it was tied 19-19 heading into Round 3, at which point Spivac landed the bigger shots and connected on one huge takedown. None of this ended up mattering in the least because all three judges had him up 20-18 after the first 10 minutes. The 33-year-old Cortes-Acosta has won five straight dating back to August 2023, although he still doesn't feel like much of a contender in a thin heavyweight division.
Next fight scheduled
Cortes-Acosta is scheduled against fellow heavyweight Serghei Spivac at UFC 316 on June 7 in Newark, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Cortes-Acosta will look to finish 2025 with multiple wins. He began the year with a TKO win over Ryan Spann. Meanwhile, Cortes-Acosta's next opponent was scheduled to fight Shamil Gaziev at UFC Qatar on May 17 before the latter withdrew from said event.
Cortes-Acosta will look to finish 2025 with multiple wins. He began the year with a TKO win over Ryan Spann. Meanwhile, Cortes-Acosta's next opponent was scheduled to fight Shamil Gaziev at UFC Qatar on May 17 before the latter withdrew from said event.
Runs winning streak to four
Cortes-Acosta defeated Ryan Spann via TKO (punches) at 4:48 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Spann had some success at light heavyweight earlier in his career, but he always seemed like a good matchup for a volume-based striker such as Cortes-Acosta. Waldo kept things simple, primarily staying at distance until Spann pulled his usual tricks, meaning gassing out in spectacular fashion. With his opponent clearly exhausted, Cortes-Acosta floored the gas pedal late in Round 2 and was able to earn the stoppage. A winner of four straight and sporting a 6-1 record in his first seven UFC bouts, Waldo is deserving of a step up in competition his next time out.
Spann had some success at light heavyweight earlier in his career, but he always seemed like a good matchup for a volume-based striker such as Cortes-Acosta. Waldo kept things simple, primarily staying at distance until Spann pulled his usual tricks, meaning gassing out in spectacular fashion. With his opponent clearly exhausted, Cortes-Acosta floored the gas pedal late in Round 2 and was able to earn the stoppage. A winner of four straight and sporting a 6-1 record in his first seven UFC bouts, Waldo is deserving of a step up in competition his next time out.
Spann fight on tap
Cortes-Acosta (undisclosed) is scheduled to compete against Ryan Spann at UFC Vegas 104 on March 15, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Spann is a light heavyweight, so Cortes-Acosta may drop a weight class to make this bout happen. 2024 saw WCA upset Robelis Despaigne but back out of a scheduled bout against Chris Barnett.
Spann is a light heavyweight, so Cortes-Acosta may drop a weight class to make this bout happen. 2024 saw WCA upset Robelis Despaigne but back out of a scheduled bout against Chris Barnett.