Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Curtis Blaydes are set to meet at UFC Noche on September 12th. The heavyweight bout adds a marquee matchup to the September card.
UFC Noche on September 12th will feature a heavyweight collision between ranked contenders Curtis "Razor" Blaydes and Waldo "Salsa Boy" Cortes-Acosta, giving the September card a significant divisional matchup.
Blaydes, 35, enters as the fourth-ranked heavyweight in the UFC. The six-foot-four American out of Elevation Fight Team carries a 19-6-0 record and has built his reputation as one of the most relentless wrestlers in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. He also contributes on the feet at a rate of 3.56 significant strikes per minute, connecting at a 50 percent clip. His 80-inch reach gives him a physical edge in most matchups.
Cortes-Acosta, also 34 years old and six-foot-four, comes in ranked tenth in the heavyweight division with a 17-3-0 record. Representing Ultimate Kombat Fitness, the American has made a name for himself with his striking output, landing 5.54 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy — making him one of the more active punchers in the division. His takedown activity is minimal, averaging just 0.44 per 15 minutes, signaling he is primarily a stand-up fighter.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings; a win over a top-ten opponent keeps him in contention for a title shot.
- Cortes-Acosta at tenth could vault into the upper tier of the division with a statement victory over a proven contender.
- The stylistic contrast is sharp: Blaydes will look to neutralize with his elite grappling while Cortes-Acosta figures to press the action on the feet with his high-volume striking.
- Both men are 193 cm and orthodox, but Blaydes holds a two-inch reach advantage that could be a factor at distance.
