UFC sixth-ranked heavyweight Waldo Cortes Acosta headlines UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday against unranked Johnny Walker, who made a successful heavyweight debut last month. Cortes Acosta believes Walker is getting ahead of himself and will face a reality check against a legitimate contender.
Cortes Acosta referenced Walker's training with former opponent Alexander Volkov, who defeated Cortes Acosta earlier this year. "I heard he told somebody, 'Oh, I know I can knock out Waldo Cortes right now because I train with Alexander Volkov.' But my question is, '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 prepare for people like you or him. I'm well prepared, and I'll go for your head."
The Dominican fighter doubts Walker's future at heavyweight, suggesting he would be better served returning to light heavyweight. "I think he'll have more success at light heavyweight than as a heavyweight," Cortes Acosta said. "He got lucky to get a chance to fight Parkin first. Every other heavyweight would knock him out in the first round... Now you have a real heavyweight."
The heavyweight division is set for a busy period: Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit are scheduled to fight for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 334 next week, with the winner likely facing the victor of Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 335 a month later. Cortes Acosta has had previous confrontations with Hokit, including an incident where Hokit referenced Cortes Acosta's nine children.
Despite the risks of fighting an unranked opponent on nine days' notice, Cortes Acosta embraces the challenge. "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. I've risked a lot of things in my life, but this is one of the things that has put me in the position I'm in now."
