Johnny Walker’s step up to the heavyweight division continues to be a success after he floored Waldo Cortes Acosta in the third round of their UFC Fight Night main event match at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. (Sunday morning SA time)
The fight was booked on short notice after Sean Brady pulled out of a scheduled main event against Gabriel Bonfim due to injury.
Both men signed up in urgent need of a win: Cortes-Acosta to snap a two-fight losing streak, Walker to prove that his win over Mick Parkin in his UFC heavyweight debut wasn't a fluke.
Walker spent most of the first two rounds on the back foot, keeping a firm defence against the favoured Cortes Acosta.
The latter landed the heavier blows and had more control in grappling, putting him on course for victory after the first two rounds.
However, out of nowhere, Walker put Cortes Acosta down with a hard right just over two minutes into the third round – prompting a quick end to proceedings, as he registered a TKO victory.
The rest of the main card saw Tatiana Suarez overcome Virna Jandiroba via unanimous decision in the women’s strawweight co-main event; Elijah Smith made quick work of Davey Grant in a bantamweight bout; Lucas Fernando outpointed fellow light heavyweight Billy Elekana over three rounds; Nina Nikolija Milosevic stopped Priscila Cachoeira in the second round of their women’s bantamweight clash; and the flyweight opener featured a unanimous decision win for Mitch Raposo over Marcos Degli in the flyweight division.
Next week brings UFC 334 at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, headlined by title fights for the Heavyweight Championship and Women’s Bantamweight Championship.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: MAIN CARD RESULTS
- Main event: Heavyweight: Johnny Walker def. Waldo Cortes Acosta via TKO (R3)
- Women’s strawweight: Tatiana Suarez def. Virna Jandiroba via unanimous decision (R3)
- Bantamweight: Elijah Smith def. Davey Grant via KO (R1)
- Light heavyweight: Lucas Fernando def. Billy Elekana via unanimous decision (R3)
- Women’s bantamweight: Nina Nikolija Milosevic def. Priscila Cachoeira via TKO (R2)
- Flyweight: Mitch Raposo def. Marcos Degli via unanimous decision (R3)