Matchup Analysis·Heavyweight
Red Corner
Waldo Cortes Acosta
“Salsa Boy”
17-313 UFCLast4mo ago
Pressure Fighter
Early Chaos
Output Builds Late
6'4"ht·78"reach·Orthodoxstance·34age
VS
Heavyweight265 lbs
3R
Blue Corner
Curtis Blaydes
“Razor”
19-6(1 NC)21 UFCLast5mo ago
Wrestler
Declining
8× Title
8× 5R
Output Builds Late
High Wear
6'4"ht·80"+2"reach·Orthodoxstance·35age
CQ Core Edges
Acosta
+1.71
Blaydes
+1.42
Acosta
0.26
Blaydes
1.38
Acosta
69%
Blaydes
79%
CQ Durability
KO exposure history
Acosta
100
IroncladBlaydes
44
Average0 KO lossesKO losses5 KO losses
0.00KD / fight0.24
CQ Pace Index
Combined SLpM
Acosta5.34SLpM
+SLpM4.18Blaydes
9.5
LowModHighExtreme
CQ Cardio Pattern
Late-fight output
AcostaOutput Builds Late+55% R1→R3
BlaydesOutput Builds Late+40% R1→R3
Finish History
Acosta
KO/TKO ×5
Finish rate (wins)
50%
5/10
Stopped rate (losses)
0%
0/3
Blaydes
KO/TKO ×8
Finish rate (wins)
57%
8/14
Stopped rate (losses)
83%
5/6
Edge & Exposure
Acosta
EdgeStriking Dominant
Net striking margin is among the best in this division. Consistently lands more than absorbed.
EdgePressure Fighter
Output holds or improves as the fight extends. Wins the striking exchange in later rounds when opponents expect a slowdown.
Blaydes
EdgeGrappling Dominant
Top-tier takedown threat for this division. Consistently forces the fight to the mat.
EdgeStriking Dominant
Net striking margin is among the best in this division. Consistently lands more than absorbed.
ExposureWear Concern
High accumulated UFC fight volume. Susceptible to opponents who apply pressure in later rounds.
Opposition Quality
Acosta10–3UFC
vs. Winning-Record Opps
7–3
Record (10)
+1.4
Str Diff/Min
57%
Finish (W)
vs. Veteran Opps (≥8 UFC wins)+0% step-up
4–2
Record (6)
+1.9
Str Diff/Min
50%
Finish (W)
vs. Elite Opps (≥15 UFC wins)
2–0
Record (2)
+1.9
Str Diff/Min
50%
Finish (W)
Blaydes14–6UFC
vs. Winning-Record Opps
12–6
Record (19)
-0.2
Str Diff/Min
58%
Finish (W)
vs. Veteran Opps (≥8 UFC wins)-14% step-up
3–1
Record (4)
+3.0
Str Diff/Min
67%
Finish (W)
vs. Elite Opps (≥15 UFC wins)
1–1
Record (2)
+3.4
Str Diff/Min
100%
Finish (W)
Division Percentile Ranks
AcostaHeavyweightBlaydes
87th
Striking Differential
83rd45th
Grappling Threat
95th75th
Round Win Rate
93rd65th
TD Defense
13th98th
Durability
33rd25th
Finishing Rate
37thRecent Form
Acosta
Stat
Blaydes
4.395.34 career
↓0.95
SLpMOutput
↑3.40
7.584.18 career
4.153.63 career
↑0.52
SApMAbsorbed
⚠↑4.85
7.612.76 career
—
TD AttAttempts/15m
↓0.05
10.6510.70 career
—
Sub AttAttempts/15m
—
Stat Breakdown
Finishes
Acosta62% distance
Finish 38%Decision 62%
Blaydes33% distance
Finish 67%Decision 33%
Acosta 13 UFC fights·Blaydes 21 UFC fights
Avg Fight Length
Acosta
11.3min
Blaydes
9.2min
Combined Distance Rate
44%of fights go the distance
CQ Finish Risk
KO Danger·↑ SCORE = ↑ RISK
AcostaTO KNOCK OUTBlaydes
65
Elite
KO Wins
KO/TKO wins5
Total UFC wins10
Blaydes's KO Losses
KO/TKO losses5
Total UFC losses6
BlaydesTO KNOCK OUTAcosta
22
Low
KO Wins
KO/TKO wins8
Total UFC wins14
Acosta's KO Losses
KO/TKO losses0
Total UFC losses3
Sub Danger·↑ SCORE = ↑ RISK
AcostaTO SUBMITBlaydes
4
Minimal
Sub Wins
Submission wins0
Total UFC wins10
Blaydes's Sub Losses
Sub losses0
Total UFC losses6
BlaydesTO SUBMITAcosta
3
Minimal
Sub Wins
Submission wins0
Total UFC wins14
Acosta's Sub Losses
Sub losses0
Total UFC losses3
AcostaWin MethodBlaydes
50%
KO / TKO
57%
0%
Submission
0%
50%
Decision
43%
10 UFC wins · 5 KO · 5 Dec14 UFC wins · 8 KO · 6 Dec
Acosta
Loss Method
Blaydes0%
KO / TKO
83%
0%
Submission
0%
100%
Decision
17%
3 UFC losses · 3 Dec6 UFC losses · 5 KO · 1 Dec
Acosta5 stoppages · 5 KO
R1
3
R2
2
R30
KO Win
All stoppages
WKODerrick LewisR2 · 3:14
WKOShamil GazievR1 · 1:22
WKOAnte DelijaR1 · 3:59
WKORyan SpannR2 · 4:48
WKOLukasz BrzeskiR1 · 3:01
Blaydes14 stoppages · 13 KO
R1
4
R2
9
R3
1
KO Win
KO Loss
All stoppages
LKOTom AspinallR1 · 1:00
WKOJailton AlmeidaR2 · 0:36
LKOSergei PavlovichR1 · 3:08
WKOTom AspinallR1 · 0:15
WKOChris DaukausR2 · 0:17
Historical Context
Acosta — Recent Fights
Opponent
MethodRndDate
UFC Fights·13 fights
54 SS (42%)·88 abs·0/1 td
44 SS (71%)·8 abs·1/1 td·28s ctrl·1 kd
10 SS (48%)·6 abs·8s ctrl·2 kd
12 SS (71%)·16 abs·97s ctrl·1 kd
45 SS (38%)·61 abs
110 SS (47%)·48 abs·2 td taken
Blaydes — Recent Fights
Opponent
MethodRndDate
174 SS (58%)·177 abs·2/7 td·125s ctrl
56 SS (59%)·45 abs·2/15 td·321s ctrl
5 SS (45%)·14 abs·1 kd taken
16 SS (64%)·1 abs·9 td taken·9s ctrl
14 SS (25%)·36 abs·0/1 td·1 kd taken
4 SS (40%)·3 abs
Common Opponents
Sergei PavlovichSame result
L
Acosta
UD·R3·2025
L
Blaydes
KO/TKO·R1·2023
Derrick LewisSplit result
W
Acosta
KO/TKO·R2·2026
L
Blaydes
KO/TKO·R2·2021
Alexander VolkovSplit result
L
Acosta
UD·R3·2026
W
Blaydes
UD·R5·2020