Cortes-Acosta Turned a Late Qatar Call into Another
Waldo Cortes-Acosta knocked out Shamil Gaziev at UFC Qatar on November 22, 2025, at ABHA Arena in Doha. A straight right hand ended the heavyweight fight at 1:22 of the first round, giving Cortes-Acosta his second victory of the month.
The assignment arrived only days before the fight
Cortes-Acosta accepted the matchup on two days’ notice and traveled to Qatar after already defeating Ante Delija on November 1. The short turnaround added another contest to an unusually active year.
He approached the late opportunity with the same willingness to exchange punches that had made his earlier November appearance successful. There was little time for a lengthy, opponent-specific preparation period.
An early exchange quickly became a finishing opportunity
Gaziev connected early, but Cortes-Acosta responded with damaging punches of his own. Once his opponent was hurt, he continued attacking rather than allowing the exchange to settle.
The decisive straight right landed clean and put Gaziev down. The official knockout came before the opening round reached its midpoint, completing another quick finish for the Dominican heavyweight.
Two November wins strengthened an already busy campaign
The result moved Cortes-Acosta to four wins against one loss in his 2025 appearances through Qatar. His ability to accept a late assignment had produced another meaningful victory.
Afterward, he expressed interest in fighting again before the year ended and called for leading heavyweights. That request reflected his appetite for activity following the knockout, while any subsequent booking required a separate agreement.
Sources
- UFC: official main-card results, date and venue
- MMA Fighting: late replacement, exchanges and November victories
