Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Last updated
Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Born (1991-10-03) October 3, 1991 (age 33)
Fundación, Barahona Province, Dominican Republic
Other namesSalsa Boy
Residence Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight262 lb (119 kg; 18 st 10 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Reach78 in (198 cm)
Style Boxing
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out ofPhoenix, Arizona, U.S.
TeamUltimate Kombat Training Center
TrainerJavier Torres
RankBlue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active2018–present
Professional boxing record
Total10
Wins6
By knockout3
Losses4
By knockout3
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins14
By knockout6
By submission1
By decision7
Losses2
By decision2
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (born October 3, 1991) is a Dominican professional mixed martial artist and boxer. He currently 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 June 24, 2025, he is #6 in the UFC Heavyweight rankings. [1] He also competed in the LFA, where he was the heavyweight champion.

Contents

Background

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]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

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]

Dana White's Contender Series

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]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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 faced former LFA Light Heavyweight Champion Ryan Spann on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254. [21] He won the fight by knockout in the second round. [22]

Cortes-Acosta faced Serghei Spivac on June 7, 2025 at UFC 316, replacing an injured Shamil Gaziev. [23] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [24] 10 out of 13 media outlets scored the bout for Spivac. [25]

Cortes-Acosta faced former interim UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Sergei Pavlovich on August 23, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 257. [26] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. [27]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches14 wins2 losses
By knockout60
By submission10
By decision72
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss14–2 Sergei Pavlovich Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang August 23, 202535:00 Shanghai, China
Win14–1 Serghei Spivac Decision (unanimous) UFC 316 June 7, 202535:00 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win13–1 Ryan Spann KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 March 15, 202524:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win12–1 Robelis Despaigne Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento May 11, 202435:00 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Win11–1 Andrei Arlovski Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 January 13, 202435:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–1Łukasz BrzeskiKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie August 26, 202313:01 Kallang, Singapore
Loss9–1 Marcos Rogério de Lima Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón April 29, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win9–0 Chase Sherman Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba November 19, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win8–0 Jared Vanderaa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen October 29, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–0Danilo SuzartTKO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 48 August 2, 202213:40 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win6–0Thomas PetersenTKO (punches) LFA 129 April 15, 202234:53 Prior Lake, Minnesota, United StatesWon the LFA Heavyweight Championship.
Win5–0Derrick WeaverTKO (punches) LFA 124 February 11, 202220:22 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win4–0Muhammed DeReeseDecision (unanimous) Bellator 271 November 12, 202135:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win3–0Jordan PowellDecision (unanimous) RUF 43: Road to ONE August 29, 202135:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United StatesRoad to ONE Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win2–0Edison LopesSubmission (kimura) RUF 42: Road to ONE July 31, 202113:12 Phoenix, Arizona, United StatesRoad to ONE Heavyweight Tournament First Round.
Win1–0Odell PantinKO (punch)Iron Boy MMA 11May 19, 201821:23 Phoenix, Arizona, United StatesHeavyweight debut.

Professional boxing record

10 fights6 wins4 losses
By knockout23
By decision41
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
10Loss6–4Sonny ContoKO1 (4), 1:41Apr 10, 2021 Osage Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
9Win6–3Daviante JonesUD4Oct 29, 2020 WestWorld, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
8Loss5–3Kingsley IbehTKO4 (6), 1:41Jun 25, 2020 MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
7Win5–2Kingsley IbehSD4Oct 12, 2019Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
6Win4–2Chad DavisTKO3 (6), 2:02Jul 27, 2019Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
5Win3–2Dale SopiUD4Apr 27, 2019Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
4Loss2–2Dante StoneSD4Aug 11, 2018Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
3Win2–1Dante StoneUD4Feb 24, 2018Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
2Win1–1Ruben RiveraTKO3 (4), 2:41Oct 14, 2017 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
1Loss0–1Adam StewartTKO1 (4), 2:58Jun 1, 2017Camelback Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  2. ↑ "Venció a excampeón, fue beisbolista: próximo rival de Robelis Despaigne". playoffmagazine. 2024-05-07.
  3. ↑ "Cortés-Acosta y Despaigne le ponen sabor al peso completo de UFC" (in Spanish). ESPN. 2024-05-10.
  4. 1 2 Sherdog.com. "Waldo "Salsa Boy" Cortes-Acosta". Sherdog. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 271 'Cyborg vs. Kavanagh' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Marrocco, Steven (2 August 2022). "DWCS Season 6, Week 2 results: Chris Duncan's insane knockout comeback caps 5-contract night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Jared Vanderaa On 4-Fight Losing Skid: 'A Lot Of Crying, Sadness' | UFC Fight Night 213. MMAjunkie.com . October 26, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Waldo Cortés-Acosta vs. Jared Vanderaa agregado a UFC Fight Night del 29 de octubre - MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español". mma.uno (in Spanish). 2022-08-06. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-10-29). "UFC Vegas 63: Waldo Cortes-Acosta Survives Leg-Kick Heavy Attack of Jared Vanderaa". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  10. ↑ Staff (2022-11-08). "Chase Sherman vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta set for UFC Fight Night 215". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  11. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-11-19). "UFC Vegas 65: Waldo Cortes-Acosta Gets Past Tough Chase Sherman". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  12. ↑ ATSteveDuncan (2023-02-08). "El dominicano Waldo Cortes-Acosta enfrentará a experimentado brasileño en UFC Fight Night del 28 de abril". MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  13. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2023-04-29). "UFC Vegas 72: Marcos Rogerio de Lima Chops Up Lead Leg of Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Wins Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  14. ↑ "UFC Singapore: Waldo Cortes-Acosta Lands Fastball, KOs Lukasz Brzeski". Cagesidepress. 2023-08-26.
  15. ↑ ITN News Desk (2023-09-25). "Andrei Arlovski vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta Reported for UFC Vegas 83". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2024-01-14). "UFC Vegas 84: Showboating Waldo Cortes-Acosta Decisions Andrei Arlovski". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  17. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Robelis Despaigne to Face Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC on ESPN 56 in St. Louis". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2024-05-11). "UFC St. Louis: Robelis Despaigne Falters in Step Up Against Waldo Cortes-Acosta". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  19. ↑ Christopher De Santiago (2024-07-29). "UFC News: Fan-Favorite Chris Barnett Returns to Fight Top Heavyweight Prospect". si.com. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  20. ↑ Nolan King (2024-09-29). "Chris Barnett gets new opponent for UFC Fight Night 244". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  21. ↑ Nolan King (2024-12-18). "Ryan Spann moves to heavyweight for UFC showdown with Waldo Cortes-Acosta". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  22. ↑ Jay Anderson (2025-03-15). "UFC Vegas 104 Results: Waldo Cortes-Acosta Too Powerful for Ryan Spann". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  23. ↑ Staff (2025-04-24). "Not Gaziev. Spivak has a new opponent at UFC 316". vringe.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.(in Russian)
  24. ↑ Jay Anderson (2025-06-07). "UFC 316: Waldo Cortes-Acosta Goes Distance, Takes Decision Against Serghei Spivac". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  25. ↑ MMA Decisions (2025-06-07). "Waldo Cortes-Acosta defeats Sergey Spivac". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  26. ↑ Damon Martin (2025-06-18). "Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta booked for UFC Shanghai". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  27. ↑ Staff (2025-08-23). "UFC Shanghai: Veteran Sergei Pavlovich Proves Too Much for Waldo Cortes-Acosta". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
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