Dominican heavyweight Waldo Cortes Acosta will headline UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday against Brazilian Johnny Walker, and the sixth-ranked contender believes his opponent is misreading lessons from a shared training partner.
Cortes Acosta, who lost to Alexander Volkov earlier this year, dismissed Walker's claim that training with Volkov gives him an edge. "Did Alexander Volkov knock me out? No. What is he learning from Alexander Volkov? Kicking and running away for his life," Cortes Acosta said. "If this is what you're learning, I'll chase you anywhere. I'm well prepared, and I'll go for your head."
Walker made a successful heavyweight debut last month with a win over Mick Parkin, but Cortes Acosta called it a fortunate introduction. "Every other heavyweight would knock him out in the first round... Now you have a real heavyweight," he said, adding that Walker would find more success at light heavyweight.
The heavyweight division is in flux with Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit set to fight for the title at UFC 334 next week, followed by Sergei Pavlovich versus Alex Pereira at UFC 335. Cortes Acosta has had heated encounters with Hokit, who once apologized after referencing Cortes Acosta's family but later doubled down. "My wife wanted to fight with him," Cortes Acosta revealed.
Accepting the bout on nine days' notice, Cortes Acosta will make his ninth UFC appearance in under two years. "I say yes to any fighter who wants to fight me, or any fighter the UFC puts in there. I never say no," he said. "I risk everything every time I fight. It's normal for me."
