Heavyweight#5 RankedACTIVE
Waldo Cortes Acosta
13-1
3 Win Streak
Age
33
Height
6'4"
Weight
2615 lbs
Reach
70"
Avg Fight Time
11:26
Gym
—
UFC Record
10-2(12 bouts)
Wins By
5 KO 0 Sub 5 Dec
Losses By
0 KO 0 Sub 2 Dec
Wins by Rd
R1 3R2 2R3 5
Last 5
LWWWL
Finish Rate
54%
Bonuses
2
Style
Striker
Location
Dominican Republic
Last Fight2026-01-24
DL
W - Derrick Lewis
Decision - UnanimousR3 5:00
Opponent Last Bout
L - Waldo Cortes-AcostaKO/TKOR2 4:09· Punches
Fight History
LOSS
AV
vs Alexander Volkov
UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland· 2026-05-09
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
DL
vs Derrick Lewis
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett· 2026-01-24
KO/TKO
Punches to Head On Ground
R2 3:14
KO/TKOPunches to Head On Ground·R2 3:14
WIN
SG
vs Shamil Gaziev
UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker· 2025-11-22
KO/TKO
Punch to Head At Distance
R1 1:22
KO/TKOPunch to Head At Distance·R1 1:22
WIN
AD
vs Ante Delija
UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama· 2025-11-01
KO/TKO
Punch to Head At Distance
R1 3:59
KO/TKOPunch to Head At Distance·R1 3:59
LOSS
SP
vs Sergei Pavlovich
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang· 2025-08-23
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
SS
vs Serghei Spivac
UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2· 2025-06-07
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
RS
vs Ryan Spann
UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2· 2025-03-15
KO/TKO
Punches to Head From Guard
R2 4:48
KO/TKOPunches to Head From Guard·R2 4:48
WIN
RD
vs Robelis Despaigne
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento· 2024-05-11
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
AA
vs Andrei Arlovski
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2· 2024-01-13
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
LB
vs Lukasz Brzeski
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie· 2023-08-26
KO/TKO
Punches to Head At Distance
R1 3:01
KO/TKOPunches to Head At Distance·R1 3:01
LOSS
MR
vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Simon· 2023-04-29
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
CS
vs Chase Sherman
UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba· 2022-11-19
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
WIN
JV
vs Jared Vanderaa
UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen· 2022-10-29
Decision - Unanimous
R3 5:00
Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00
Fighter Archetype
Striker
Boxing-Heavy
Why This Archetype
This fighter displays a unique approach that transcends traditional archetypes.
Striking
5.8/min
Grappling
0.49 TD
Defense
55%
⚖️Waldo adapts strategy based on opponent — no predictable tendencies
🧬Competent across all ranges — 49% striking and 50% TD accuracy
📊Balanced approach can be difficult to game-plan against
Technique DNA
No commentary data for technique analysis
Finish Techniques
Striking Finishes
5
100% of career finishes
Submission Finishes
0
0% of career finishes
⚡ Knockout Arsenal (1 techniques)
KO/TKO
#15
100% of KOs
Finish Pattern Analysis
- ⚡⚡ Striking finisher: 100% of career finishes via knockout/TKO. Devastating striking power and end-game precision.
- 🎯🎯 Signature KO: KO/TKO (5x, 100% of KOs). Opponents specifically game-plan for this threat.
Fighter Skills Radar
Key Insights
🥊
Striking specialist: Dominates with devastating volume and accuracy. Avoids ground exchanges.💪
Peak strengths: Strikes/Min (5.8) and Strike Def% (55%).⚠️
Vulnerability: Sub/15min is below average (6/100). Opponents exploit this.📈
Pace builder: Output increases in later rounds (162% in R3). Outworks opponents.Striking Profile
Striking Accuracy
49%
Average
0%100%
Striking Defense
55%
Above Avg
0%100%
Range Breakdown
Distance
48% acc88%
Clinch
58% acc3%
Ground
64% acc9%
Striking Differential+2.29/min
5.76 landed/min3.47 absorbed/min
5.76
Landed/Min
3.47
Absorbed/Min
0.49
KD Avg
0
1st Rd Finishes
Sig. Strikes Landed527
Sig. Strikes Attempted1068
Key Insights
Waldo is a distance-first striker, with 85% of output at range.
Primarily a headhunter with 75% targeting the head.
Favorable output (1.7:1).
Distance-dominant: 88% of output at range with 48% accuracy.
Iron chin: exceptional durability under fire.
Elite KD exchange: deals 3.0x more knockdowns than absorbed.
Grappling Profile
TD Accuracy
50%
Average
0%100%
TD Defense
67%
Elite
0%100%
TD Success Rate
50%(est)
Landed
3
Defended
3
Total
6
Note: Takedowns landed estimated from accuracy percentage
0.49
TD / 15min
0.16
Sub / 15min
0
TD Landed
6
TD Attempted
Extended Grappling
Clinch Takedowns
3
Landed
6
Attempted
50%
Accuracy
Submission Timing
1 total attempts
Early Hunter
R1
100%
R2
0%
R3
0%
Key Insights
Rarely initiates takedowns (0.49/15min).
Solid TD defense at 67%.
Submission timing: "Early Hunter" — most active early.
Offensive vs Defensive Balance
Damage Exchange
Offensive dominance vs damage absorbed per fight
Dealt
527
2.02
Ratio
Absorbed
261
Chin Rating
IronKD Exchange
3/0
KD Recovery
Never Dropped
Pace & Momentum
Fight pacing and round-over-round performance trends
Engagement Score
30.3
Moderate
Strikes/Min
5.6
Standing %
91%
R3 vs R1 Output
162%
Key Insights
📊 Favorable damage ratio (2.02x) - consistent striking dominance.
🥊 Iron chin - rarely compromised by strikes.
🎯 Effective knockdown technician - deals significantly more than absorbs.
⚙️ High engagement score (30.3) - maintains relentless pace.
📈 Improves dramatically in late rounds - R3 output 162% of R1.
Round-by-Round Profile
Career average across 13 fights
R1 Control
0:37
R2 Control
0:20
R3 Control
0:19
R1 to Final
+73%
In-Fight Adaptation
Detected across career, comparing R1 vs R3+ patterns
Shifts to headhunting late (+20.3pp in R3).
Target Selection Evolution
Head
+20.3pp
Body
-12.8pp
Leg
-7.5pp
Range Preference Evolution
Ground Shift
+0.9pp
Round Patterns
⬆️ Improves with fight duration – strong finishing power
🔄 Low control time – movement-focused fighter
Competitive Profile
Strength of Schedule
Opponent quality and career progression
Avg Opponent ELO
2713
StrongCareer-wide opponent strength
Conclusions Summary
Fighter characteristics, strengths, patterns, and competitive insights