Cortes-Acosta wants Hokit's teeth but first must headline UFC Vegas 124 on short notice

Waldo Cortes-Acosta will headline UFC Vegas 124 against Johnny Walker this Saturday after being drafted in on just one week’s notice, replacing the withdrawn Sean Brady vs. Gabriel Bonfim bout that was originally set to top the card.

The short-notice call-up comes as the heavyweight division builds toward UFC 334 on November 14, where Josh Hokit challenges Ciryl Gane for the title. Cortes-Acosta is eager to use Saturday’s fight as a springboard into that new era at the top of the division.

“I’m excited for the division because they’re still moving everything, the title is moving now,” Cortes-Acosta told MMA Fighting. “I see the new blood coming for the title. Josh Hokit is a personality in there, but it’s still moving the heavyweight division right now.”

Cortes-Acosta was himself the story of the heavyweight division in 2025, going 4-1 across five fights and earning Fighter of the Year consideration. A finish of Derrick Lewis at UFC 324 in January was the highlight, but back-to-back losses to Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes have since cooled his momentum.

Hokit has since seized the spotlight, climbing from unranked to title contender within a year. His Fight of the Year-contending performance against Blaydes at UFC 327 in April was the catalyst, but Cortes-Acosta believes Hokit’s willingness to talk trash has been equally important to his rise.

“Before him talking shit about everybody, about everything else — right now I do it like a more reserved version,” Cortes-Acosta said. “I don’t like it too much, personally, but at the same time it makes for more exciting fights. Makes more talk on social media for the heavyweight division.”

Despite the grudging acknowledgement, Cortes-Acosta makes no secret of his personal feelings toward Hokit. “I’m no fan of him,” he said. “I want one day, meeting him or being in the ring and take it out — whole teeth, whole mouth, the whole f*cking dirty mouth.”

Beyond Saturday, Cortes-Acosta has ambitions to fight again quickly. A win over Walker would put him in position to compete at UFC 335 on December 12 — a date he had originally targeted — and potentially sign a new contract in the process. Back-to-back five-fight years in the octagon would be the reward if everything falls into place.