This is the UFC 324 live blog for Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis, the main card heavyweight bout Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With a 4-1 record in 2025, Cortes-Acosta surged to the No. 7 spot in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, with Lewis still hanging on at No. 13.
Cortes-Acosta (16-2) had a breakthrough 2025 campaign, not only becoming the most active heavyweight on the roster, but finding his finishing touch with knockouts of Shamil Gaziev and Ante Delija in his past two outings. Making his run even more impressive, those two wins both came in November just three weeks apart. “Salsa Boy” now looks to knock off one of the division’s most experienced fighters with the hopes of securing a title shot in 2026.
The stakes are just as high for Lewis (29-12, 1 NC), who has his eyes set on fighting at the White House in June. “The Black Beast” refuses to stay quiet as he approaches his 41st birthday, winning three of his past four fights including back-to-back knockouts of Tallison Teixeira and Rodrigo Nascimento.
Check out the UFC 324 live blog for Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis below.
We go from one of the more tactical battles on the card to what should be a fine display of swangin’ and bangin’. Can Salsa Boy keep the good times rolling or is Derrick Lewis about to takeover this Paramount broadcast as only he can?
On FanDuel, the Waldo Cortes-Acosta hot streak is favored to continue as he enters at a sizable -335. Lewis is the underdog at +270.
Cortes-Acosta flicking out a few light kicks as Lewis bides his time. High kick from Lewis is blocked, but crowd loved that show of agility. Lewis has circled to one side of the octagon, daring Cortes-Acosta to take one misstep and move right into Lewis’ right hand. There’s a right from Lewis for the first major score almost two minutes into the round.
Cortes-Acosta lands a jab. He follows up with a couple more and it’s starting to pay dividends. Counter left from Cortes-Acosta. Lewis might be headhunting too much with that hammer right hand of his.
Another Cortes-Acosta right lands. Cortes-Acosta catches a kick and trips Lewis down. He’s in no hurry to follow him to the ground. He’s controlling Lewis’ feet and tries to throw a ground strike. Back to the standup. Heavy leather from Lewis, but Cortes-Acosta just backing out of the way. Jab from Cortes-Acosta to close the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Cortes-Acosta.
Body kick from Lewis and he rushes forward, but a good feint from Cortes-Acosta causes him to hesitate. There’s the “USA” chant, let’s see if that fires Lewis up. Counter right from Cortes-Acosta and Lewis definitely felt that. Swinging right from Lewis and Cortes-Acosta definitely felt THAT. Stiff leg kick by Cortes-Acosta. He’s sticking his jab in Lewis’ face.
Lewis just missing with some of these power shots. Cortes-Acosta’s agility is as advertised. Right hand over the top by Cortes-Acosta, then more jabs. Glancing left from Lewis. Cortes-Acosta to the body, Lewis with lunging shots. Counter right from Cortes-Acosta and down Lewis goes! That was like an Anderson Silva boop, whoa. Heavy shots from Cortes-Acosta on the ground, Lewis is turtling up, and referee Jason Herzog has to step in for the stoppage.
Official result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis via TKO (strikes) (R2, 3:14)
Cortes-Acosta says he’s studied Lewis for years and he wanted to show his calm and patience tonight.
“I want Curtis Blaydes,” Cortes-Acosta said via a Spanish translator. “He’s talking a lot of crap and I want to shut him up.”
