Waldo Cortés-Acosta vs Curtis Blaydes (Recap Pending)

Curtis Blaydes meets Waldo Cortés-Acosta in a heavyweight crossroads bout on 13 September. The American veteran brings a 19-6 record and power in both fists, whilst the Dominican challenger sits at 17-3 with nine knockouts and a submission to his name. Both men stand 193 cm tall, but the market has installed Cortés-Acosta as the favourite despite Blaydes' deeper résumé.

The fight takes place on Sunday, 13 September 2026.

Tale of the Tape

Waldo Cortés-Acosta

Odds: -175 (avg across books)

Record: 17-3-0

KO Wins: 9 (53%)

Age: 34

Height: 6ft4

Reach: 78"

Stance: Orthodox

Nationality: Dominican Republic

Weight Class: 262 lb

Curtis Blaydes

Odds: +153 (avg across books)

Record: 19-6-0 (1 NC)

KO Wins: 13 (68%)

Age: 35

Height: 6ft4

Nationality: United States

Weight Class: 261 lb

Form & Styles

Blaydes has built his career on volume wrestling and ground-and-pound, turning thirteen of his wins into finishes. He's faced the division's elite and knows how to grind out decisions when the power doesn't land. Cortés-Acosta offers fewer clues from the supplied data—nine KO wins suggest a finishing instinct, and the lone submission hints at a submission threat if the fight hits the mat. At 34 and 35 respectively, both are seasoned campaigners who've learned to pace themselves over three rounds.

Prediction

The books have installed Cortés-Acosta as the favourite, but Blaydes' experience against top-tier opposition gives him a live chance to spoil the narrative. The Dominican's knockout rate suggests he can hurt anyone at heavyweight, yet Blaydes has proven durable under fire and knows how to wrestle his way out of trouble when the stand-up turns dicey. Either man can seize this one inside the distance, and heavyweight fights rarely follow the script—one punch or one scramble can flip the entire evening.

Fight verified via ESPN UFC schedule: Noche UFC. Date, fighters and matchup details on this page reflect the latest information from the cited source at time of writing.

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