UFC Fight Night | Johnny Walker Stops Waldo Cortes-Acosta

What a battle! Monster Energy congratulates MMA athlete Johnny Walker on defeating Waldo Cortes-Acosta at the UFC Fight Night 293 in Las Vegas on Saturday night. In the main event, contested in the heavyweight division, the 34-year-old from Rio Branco, Brazil, earned a spectacular TKO victory in the third round. The back-and-forth fight also earned both athletes the UFC's $100,000 Fight of the Night Bonus.

UFC Fight Night: Cortes Acosta vs. Walker, also known as UFC Fight Night 293 and UFC Vegas 124, was contested in front of a live crowd at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Featuring a total of six bouts on the Main Card and eight Prelims matchups, UFC Vegas 124 was broadcast live on Paramount+.

Monster Energy's Walker (24-10) stepped into the Octagon fresh off a dominant first-round TKO victory over Mick Parkin in his heavyweight division debut at UFC 332 in October. The brutal knockout set the tone for Walker's new chapter in the heavyweight division. Looking for another win, he took Saturday night's fight on short notice when the initial headline bout between Gabriel Bonfim and Sean Brady was canceled.

Walker’s opponent, Cortes-Acosta (17-5) from the Dominican Republic, came to Las Vegas looking to snap a two-fight skid after decision losses to Alexander Volkov and, most recently, Curtis Blaydes at Noche UFC in September. Despite the setbacks, the heavyweight entered Saturday’s fight as the betting favorite.

The first round unfolded with Walker landing damaging leg kicks that stung his opponent. Undeterred, Cortes-Acosta pressed forward and caught Walker with a heavy punch, briefly sending him to the canvas. Recovering quickly, Walker engaged Cortes-Acosta in a clinch, and both fighters exchanged wild punches until the bell. 

Round 2 proceeded with both fighters landing heavy blows. Capitalizing on his fast boxing, Cortes-Acosta visibly hurt Walker and once again sent him to the canvas, followed by ground-and-pound from top position. At the end of the second frame, Walker found himself in need of a comeback – or risk losing the fight by decision amid the Dominican's onslaught.

The comeback arrived seemingly out of nowhere in Round 3 when Walker landed a surprising question mark kick to the head. Walker immediately followed with a swift backfist that wobbled Cortes Acosta, then knocked him down with a hard right to the jaw that had the crowd inside the Meta APEX on its feet. Towering over his defenseless opponent, Walker unleashed follow-up punches to cement his upset victory. At 2:27 of Round 3, referee Jason Herzog intervened to end the fight, pronouncing Walker the winner by TKO. 

"I just took the best shots in heavyweight clean to my chin! Who says I don't have a chin now? This was just to prove to everyone," said Monster Energy's Walker upon claiming the win in the Main Event at UFC Vegas 124. "This is not technique. This is surprise!"

The surprise finish marks Walker's second consecutive stoppage at heavyweight and earned the Brazilian the UFC's $100,000 Fight of the Night Bonus. As Walker advances in UFC heavyweight division rankings after taking out a Top 10 opponent, stay tuned for his next fight!