The UFC was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday for UFC Vegas 124. In the main event, heavyweight contenders threw down as Johnny Walker took on Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
Walker entered the fight coming off a knockout win over Mick Parkin in his heavyweight debut. Cortes-Acosta, meanwhile, was on a two-fight losing skid after dropping back-to-back fights to Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov by decision.
Ultimately, it was Walker who pulled off the upset and scored a third-round knockout victory to send a statement to the heavyweight division. Following UFC Vegas 124, here is what I think should be next for the heavyweight contenders.
Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker made a statement on Saturday as he knocked out Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a great win. The Brazilian has looked good at heavyweight and has won both of his fights by knockout. His power is there, and his chin is much better at heavyweight. He also finished Cortes-Acosta, which is something Blaydes, Volkov, and Sergei Pavlovich couldn’t do.
With the win, Walker proved he’s a top-10 heavyweight and should get a big fight next time out. A logical next fight is to face Blaydes, who is also coming off a decision win over Cortes-Acosta. The winner of this fight could very well get a title eliminator fight next time out.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Waldo Cortes-Acosta looked like a future title contender at heavyweight, but he’s now lost three straight fights, which leaves his future murky. The loss to Walker is a disappointing one for the Dominican, as he now will need to fight below him in the rankings and avoid being considered a gatekeeper at heavyweight.
With the loss, Cortes-Acosta should take some time off and look to return at the beginning of Q2 in 2027. The heavyweight division could look much different then, but a fight against Tyrell Fortune makes sense. Fortune is at the bottom of the top-15, and it’s a chance for Cortes-Acosta to get back on track.
What do you think should be next for Johnny Walker and Waldo Cortes-Acosta after UFC Vegas 124?
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
