Cortes-Acosta Pounced on Lewis’s Slip
Waldo Cortes-Acosta stopped Derrick Lewis at 3:14 of the second round on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324. Their heavyweight main-card contest at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ended when Cortes-Acosta followed Lewis to the floor and delivered unanswered punches.
Two heavyweights began cautiously despite their punching reputations
Cortes-Acosta weighed 262 pounds, with Lewis at 263.5. Both carried a powerful right hand, but the opening round featured a measured exchange of kicks and selective punches rather than an immediate firefight.
Cortes-Acosta briefly put Lewis down after catching a kick, then allowed him to stand. The veteran continued trying high kicks and heavy swings while the Dominican worked at a steadier pace.
A second-round opening changed the fight completely
Lewis advanced with punches but struggled to connect cleanly. When he slipped and ended up on his back, Cortes-Acosta followed rather than allowing another reset on the feet.
Lewis turned toward his knees, leaving Cortes-Acosta an opportunity to unload punches. Referee Jason Herzog intervened as the grounded veteran failed to produce an effective defensive response.
The third consecutive win prompted another major callout
Cortes-Acosta extended his winning streak to three and collected his fifth victory in eleven months. The finish added a highly recognizable heavyweight name to his record.
He said afterward that the outcome had not surprised him and called for Curtis Blaydes. His immediate achievement was converting one positional opening into a decisive stoppage after an otherwise cautious heavyweight contest.
Sources
- UFC: official results and scores
- UFC: date, venue and weights
- Cageside Press: opening kicks, ground finish and Blaydes callout
