Por Nelson Santana
28 de enero de 2026
Quick Summary
Dominican fighter Waldo Cortes-Acosta defeated Derrick Lewis by TKO in the second round at UFC 324.
The win extends his run to seven victories in his last eight fights.
After the bout, he called for a matchup with Curtis Blaydes, a top-5 heavyweight.
The victory cements him as a legitimate contender in the UFC heavyweight division.
Las Vegas witnessed another Dominican night in mixed martial arts. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, known as “Salsa Boy,” scored a second-round technical knockout over veteran Derrick Lewis at UFC 324, confirming his rise as a serious contender in the heavyweight division.
Cortes-Acosta executed a disciplined game plan from the opening round: he managed distance with steady jabs, avoided chaotic exchanges, and landed clean combinations. In the second round, a sharp right hand dropped Lewis. The referee stopped the fight after a follow-up barrage on the ground that “The Black Beast” could not answer.
Lewis—widely regarded as one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists—never found his rhythm. His attempts to connect were neutralized by the Dominican’s footwork and tactical reading, as Cortes-Acosta fought with a level of strategic calm that’s rare in the heavyweight class.
With the win, Cortes-Acosta improves his professional record to 16–2 and extends his momentum: seven wins in his last eight fights, most by knockout or submission. He currently sits seventh in the heavyweight world rankings.
Tras el combate, Cortes-Acosta lanzó su mensaje: quiere enfrentar a Curtis Blaydes, especialista en lucha libre ubicado en el top 5. Un triunfo contra un peleador de ese calibre lo posicionaría como contendiente directo al título.After the fight, Cortes-Acosta made his message clear: he wants Curtis Blaydes, the elite wrestler ranked in the top five. A victory over an opponent of that caliber would position him as a direct title challenger.
Born in Fundación, Barahona, Cortes-Acosta embodies a familiar Dominican diaspora story: migration, early sports dreams in baseball, and reinvention through discipline. He now fights out of the United States, but carries the Dominican flag as a symbol of identity every time he steps into the spotlight—expanding Dominican presence beyond baseball and traditional boxing.
The UFC heavyweight division is in the midst of a generational transition. Performances like Cortes-Acosta’s bring clarity to a weight class searching for new headliners. What happened at UFC 324 confirms the Dominican has moved from prospect to proven contender.
If the next step is Blaydes, the route is clear. Waldo Cortes-Acosta isn’t asking for attention anymore—he’s taking it, and the road to the title now carries a Dominican accent.
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