Waldo Cortes-Acosta questions how Curtis Blaydes will respond after Josh Hokit fight
The Dominican heavyweight isn't sure how Curtis Blaydes will respond after his brutal loss to Josh Hokit.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta knows he could be facing a different Curtis Blaydes at Noche UFC 4. In April, the American was defeated by Josh Hokit in a brutal war inside the Octagon, and Cortes-Acosta is not sure how his opponent has recovered from that. In any case, whether Blaydes is fully recovered or not, the Dominican fighter warned that he will now face an opponent with more power and speed than Hokit.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta Questions Curtis Blaydes' Condition
Blaydes is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Hokit at UFC 327 in April. The heavyweight contenders engaged in a back-and-forth fight that lasted three rounds, with Hokit ultimately earning the decision on the scorecards.
With that in mind, Cortes-Acosta has doubts about whether his opponent has fully recovered from that fight and is already prepared for another challenge. After all, in his opinion, Blaydes will be facing a faster and more powerful opponent this time.
"Brutal, brutal fight," Cortes-Acosta told MMA Junkie Radio. "I don't know how damaged he got in the brain. I don't know how he's thinking about the fight now. [...] There's different power and different speed here now."
The Dominican fighter has also expressed confidence in his abilities against Blaydes. Cortes-Acosta previously called for the matchup after stopping Derrick Lewis at UFC 324 and believes he can outmatch the American.
"Him talking a long time ago a lot of sh*t, he can be beat me in the wrestling and beat me in the boxing, that I don't have nothing," Cortes-Acosta said. "I'm going to show him who 'Salsa Boy' is in the ring this Saturday."
Cortes-Acosta Looks to Bounce Back
Cortes-Acosta enters the matchup looking to return to the win column after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov in May. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak for the Dominican, who was coming off a TKO victory against Lewis.
Blaydes, meanwhile, will also attempt to rebound after his loss to Hokit. The American has experienced ups and downs inside the Octagon since 2023, compiling a 2-3 record in his last five appearances.
Noche UFC 4 will take place on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, with Cortes-Acosta and Blaydes set to meet in a key heavyweight matchup. The event will be headlined by a featherweight bout between Jean Silva and Jose Delgado.
