Cortes-Acosta On Blaydes At Noche UFC 4

Waldo Cortes-Acosta will attempt to rebound from his first Top Five setback when he faces Curtis Blaydes at Noche UFC 4 on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.

The Dominican heavyweight closes as a -200 favourite over the former title challenger, per MMA Mania's fight preview. Blaydes sits at +154 despite his collegiate wrestling pedigree and cage experience against the division's elite. Both men are coming off competitive losses and need a statement win to stay relevant in the title hunt.

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Cortes-Acosta's Jab Could Neutralise Wrestling Threat

The 6-foot-4 striker has found his stride since turning a corner in 2025, establishing himself as a Top 10 fixture with an engine that carries three full rounds. His jab remains his best weapon, but the counter right hand has become a more frequent finisher in recent outings. MMA Mania's technical breakdown notes that Cortes-Acosta should pressure behind the jab to keep Blaydes at the perfect range, making the wrestler's entries obvious before they happen. If he lands half as much as Josh Hokit did in Blaydes' last outing, the canvas beckons.

Blaydes entered the UFC as a gas tank wrestler who made opponents miserable with mat returns and elbows, but his recent tape tells a different story. In his last seven fights, he has scored just four takedowns — a sharp decline from performances that saw him land 14 against Alexander Volkov or four against Alistair Overeem. At 35, with visible knee wear and accumulated damage, the all-time heavyweight takedown leader is wrestling less often and less successfully. He still owns a reach advantage and a powerful jab of his own, but setting up shots against a sharp boxer like Cortes-Acosta will require feints, low kicks, and body work he has not consistently shown in recent years.

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Noche UFC 4 airs Saturday from Desert Diamond Arena with the heavyweight bout serving as a co-main event eliminator.

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• MMA Mania — Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Curtis Blaydes: Odds, full fight preview and prediction | Noche UFC 4