Johnny Walker Stops Waldo Cortes-Acosta in Third Round of UFC Vegas 124 Heavyweight Main Event
Walker was knocked down in each of the first two rounds, then hurt Cortes-Acosta with a kick and a backfist in the third and finished him with strikes at 2:27.
Key points
- Johnny Walker defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta by TKO from strikes at 2:27 of Round 3 in the heavyweight main event of UFC Fight Night 293, also billed as UFC Vegas 124, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas…
- The heavyweight main event was put together on nine days notice.
- Cortes-Acosta knocked Walker down with a punch in Round 1.
Johnny Walker defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta by TKO from strikes at 2:27 of Round 3 in the heavyweight main event of UFC Fight Night 293, also billed as UFC Vegas 124, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Walker moved to 24-10 in MMA and 10-7 in the UFC. Cortes-Acosta fell to 17-5 in MMA and 10-5 in the UFC.
A main event made in nine days
The heavyweight main event was put together on nine days notice. The original welterweight headliner, Sean Brady against Gabriel Bonfim, fell through when Brady was sidelined with a staph infection. Walker was fighting at heavyweight for only the second time after moving up from light heavyweight.
Knocked down twice, then the finish
Cortes-Acosta knocked Walker down with a punch in Round 1. He did it again in Round 2, where he took top position and landed ground and pound. Walker survived both rounds and changed the fight in the third.
In Round 3, Walker hurt Cortes-Acosta with a question mark kick followed by a backfist. He then dropped him with a right hand and the referee pulled Walker off for the finish.
Walker has now won both of his heavyweight fights by stoppage from strikes. At UFC 332 he finished Mick Parkin in the first round with a knee knockout. Cortes-Acosta has lost three straight, including decisions to Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes.
Suarez calls for a title shot
In the co main event, Tatiana Suarez defeated Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision. The scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. Suarez called for a title shot against strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern. She moved to 13-1 in MMA and 10-1 in the UFC.
On the rest of the main card, Elijah Smith knocked out Davey Grant at 1:00 of Round 1. Lucas Fernando beat Billy Elekana by unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three cards. Nina Milosevic stopped Priscila Cachoeira by TKO at 3:40 of Round 2.
Post fight bonuses were announced after the card. Fight of the Night went to Walker and Cortes-Acosta at 100,000 dollars each. Performance of the Night bonuses went to Elijah Smith and Thomas Petersen. Petersen stopped Gabriel Lorenco by TKO at 4:47 of Round 3 on the preliminary card.
Timeline
- Nov 7, 2026Waldo Cortes-Acosta knocks Johnny Walker down in Round 1 and again in Round 2.
- Nov 7, 2026Walker hurts Cortes-Acosta with a question mark kick and a backfist in Round 3.
- Nov 7, 2026Walker drops Cortes-Acosta with a right hand and wins by TKO at 2:27 of Round 3.
- Nov 7, 2026Tatiana Suarez beats Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision in the co main event and calls for a title shot.