Waldo Cortes-Acosta Seeks to Defeat Josh Hokit at UFC Vegas 124

Waldo Cortes-Acosta aims to snap a two-fight losing streak when he faces Johnny Walker in the UFC Vegas 124 main event on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The five-round heavyweight fight was arranged on short notice after Sean Brady withdrew from the original headliner against Gabriel Bonfim.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-4) steps into the Octagon looking to snap consecutive decision losses to Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes. He seeks to rebound from consecutive decision losses to Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes. His recent victory was a second-round stoppage of Derrick Lewis at UFC 324.

Cortes-Acosta accepted the fight roughly ten days out, regardless of the opponent, after two others declined. He considers limited preparation advantageous because rivals must adjust to his power. His plan is to close space and drive Walker backward, wearing him down with patient pressure and body work before taking a decision or late stoppage. He has a 78-inch reach, which is four inches shorter than Walker’s.

Walker’s Heavyweight Debut Posesses Different Test

Walker, a former light heavyweight, presents a new challenge for Cortes-Acosta. The Brazilian made his heavyweight debut at UFC 332 on October 3, 2026, knocking out Mick Parkin. Walker is listed at 23-10 overall, with 18 knockout victories and three submissions. His 82-inch reach presents a different physical problem from simply matching another heavyweight punch for punch.

He has the kind of explosive creativity that can end a heavyweight fight in one moment and should avoid long fence battles, punishing Cortes-Acosta whenever he reaches in with the jab. Cortes-Acosta’s UFC statistical profile shows he lands 5.03 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.44, with 48 percent striking accuracy and 55 percent significant-strike defense. These figures are career averages, not a prediction for Saturday.

Walker enters with a questionable chin and a reputation for fading when pressure builds. Cortes-Acosta holds the more reliable path to victory with his durable frame and heavier punches, which should make the early exchanges far more dangerous for Walker. Expect an early blast that wobbles the favorite and produces a first-round knockout. Cortes-Acosta has the stronger chin, better pace, and clearer plan for a five-round heavyweight fight.

Cortes-Acosta Sets Sights on Hokit After Walker

Cortes-Acosta made headlines throughout the division in 2025, fighting five times and drawing Fighter of the Year consideration thanks to a 4-1 record. He extended that run with a finish of Derrick Lewis at the January UFC 324 event. This year, the heavyweight division is all about Hokit, who rose from unranked status to a title shot in twelve months, which included a Fight of the Year-contending win over Blaydes at UFC 327 in April.

Cortes-Acosta recognizes Hokit’s use of his words to capture media attention as a significant factor in his ascent, and while the Dominican fighter has engaged in his own trash talk previously, he is adopting a different method due to how Hokit has conducted himself. Right now, I’m a fan more than that because I don’t like it before, he said. Before him talking shit about everybody, about everything else and everything. Right now, I do it like more reserved [version] of talking shit about everybody, but the personality is there.

I don’t like it too much, personally, he continued. But at the same time, too, it makes for more exciting fights. Makes more talk in the social media for the heavyweight division. Cortes-Acosta is not a fan of Hokit’s ‘The Incredible Hok’ persona but acknowledged that playing the villain helped Hokit secure a title opportunity far ahead of schedule, and the American promotes fights by being controversial and cringe, a tactic Cortes-Acosta doesn’t object to.

I’m no fan of him, he stated. I’m the person, I want one day, meeting him or being in the ring and take it out—whole teeth, whole mouth, the whole f*cking dirty mouth he has.

While Cortes-Acosta couldn’t defeat Blaydes, both he and Hokit do share knockout wins over Derrick Lewis.

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