| Waldo Cortes-Acosta | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 3, 1991 Fundación, Dominican Republic |
| Other names | Salsa Boy |
| Residence | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 262 lb (119 kg; 18 st 10 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 78 in (198 cm) |
| Style | Boxing Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Fighting out of | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Team | Ultimate Kombat Training Center |
| Trainer | Javier Torres |
| Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 13 |
| Wins | 12 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (born October 3, 1991) is a Dominican professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2018, Cortes-Acosta earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series, winning by first round TKO. As of February 4, 2025, he is #12 in the UFC Heavyweight rankings. [1]
Cortes-Acosta is originally from Barahona and came to the United States playing baseball. He had previously started playing baseball in his country and became a professional. He began practicing boxing and mixed martial arts at the age of 24. [2]
Cortes-Acosta trained at the Tristar Gym alongside Georges St-Pierre and started off with two victories in professional MMA. [3] [4]
Cortes-Acosta faced Muhammed DeReese on November 12, 2021 at Bellator 271. He won the bout by unanimous decision. [5]
In his last bout before DWCS, Cortes-Acosta faced Thomas Petersen for the LFA Heavyweight Championship on April 15, 2022, at LFA 129. He won the bout by TKO in the third round. [4]
On August 2, 2022, Cortes-Acosta faced Danilo Suzart for a UFC contract a Week 2 of Season 6 of Dana White's Contender Series on August 2, 2022. He won the fight via first round TKO and was awarded a contract by Dana White. [6]
After earning his contract, Cortes-Acosta made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 213 against Jared Vanderaa on October 29, 2022. [7] [8] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [9]
Cortes-Acosta faced Chase Sherman on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215. [10] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [11]
Cortes-Acosta faced Marcos Rogério de Lima on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 45. [12] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [13]
Cortes-Acosta faced Łukasz Brzeski on August 26, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 225. He won the fight via KO in the first round. [14]
Cortes-Acosta faced Andrei Arlovski on January 13, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 234. [15] He won the bout by unanimous decision. [16]
Cortes-Acosta faced Robelis Despaigne on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. [17] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [18]
Cortes-Acosta was scheduled to face Chris Barnett on October 12, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 244. [19] However, Cortes-Acosta withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Junior Tafa. [20]
Cortes-Acosta is scheduled to face Ryan Spann on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254. [21]
| 13 matches | 12 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 5 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 12–1 | Robelis Despaigne | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Andrei Arlovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 | January 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Łukasz Brzeski | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | August 26, 2023 | 1 | 3:01 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Marcos Rogério de Lima | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón | April 29, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Chase Sherman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba | November 19, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Jared Vanderaa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen | October 29, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Danilo Suzart | TKO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 48 | August 2, 2022 | 1 | 3:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Thomas Petersen | TKO (punches) | LFA 129 | April 15, 2022 | 3 | 4:53 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | Won the LFA Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Derrick Weaver | TKO (punches) | LFA 124 | February 11, 2022 | 2 | 0:22 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Muhammed DeReese | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 271 | November 12, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jordan Powell | Decision (unanimous) | Road to ONE: RUF 43 | August 29, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Road to ONE Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 2–0 | Edison Lopes | Submission (kimura) | Road to ONE: RUF 42 | July 31, 2021 | 1 | 3:12 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Road to ONE Heavyweight Tournament First Round. |
| Win | 1–0 | Odell Pantin | KO (punch) | Iron Boy MMA 11 | May 19, 2018 | 2 | 1:23 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
Andrei Arlovski is a Belarusian-American professional mixed martial artist and actor, who is currently signed to the Global Fight League. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, he competed in the heavyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and holds the record for most wins (23) in UFC heavyweight history. Arlovski has also competed for Strikeforce, WSOF, Affliction, EliteXC, ONE FC and M-1 Challenge.
Robelis Despaigne Sanquet is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and taekwondo practitioner who is currently signed with Karate Combat. Despaigne competed in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He won the bronze medal on Taekwondo at the 2012 Summer Olympics - Men's for 80 kg.
Luiz Philipe Lins Pimentel do Amaral is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who formerly competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He won the 2018 Professional Fighters League heavyweight tournament.
Marcos Rogério de Lima is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2009, he formerly competed for Strikeforce, Shooto, and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3.
Augusto dos Santos Sakai is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator MMA.
Jake Collier is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Matheus Nicolau Pereira is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has also competed in the Brave Combat Federation and the Future FC.
Marcin Tybura is a Polish professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2011, Tybura previously fought for M-1 and was an M-1 Global Heavyweight Champion and M-1 Grand Prix 2013 Heavyweight Champion. As of November 19, 2024, he is #8 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Chase Sherman is an American professional mixed martial artist and former bare-knuckle boxer. A professional MMA competitor since 2014, he has competed for the UFC and Titan FC.
Mallory Martin is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division. Martin also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta).
Ryan Jamari Spann is an American mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2013, he has also fought for the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he was the Light Heavyweight Champion.
Justin Tafa is an Australian-Samoan professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Mario Alberto Bautista is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of November 5, 2024, he is #10 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Thiago Moisés is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has been a professional MMA competitor since 2012. Previously, he competed for the promotions RFA and LFA.
Don'Tale O'Neil Mayes is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of February 4, 2025, he is #14 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Carlos Felipe is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA). A professional since 2014, he most notably fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is ranked #9 in the ACA Heavyweight rankings.
Sam Kristen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist who is currently competing in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Jared Vanderaa is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Cheyanne Vlismas, formerly known as Cheyanne Buys, is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Josh Parisian is an American mixed martial artist who previously competed in the heavyweight division of the UFC.
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Updated to 10 December 2024 | ||||||
