UFC Vegas 124 has found a new headliner after Sean Brady’s injury forced the promotion to scrap its originally scheduled welterweight main event.
The upcoming Fight Night card will now feature a heavyweight showdown between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker.
MMA Fighting confirmed that the matchup has been booked for November 7 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, with Brazilian journalist Laerte Viana first reporting the development. The late change comes after Brady withdrew from his scheduled contest against Gabriel Bonfim, leaving the UFC searching for a replacement to headline the event.
Bonfim will no longer compete on the November 7 card, while Cortes-Acosta and Walker have received an opportunity to take over the main event slot. The promotion has yet to clarify whether their heavyweight contest will be scheduled for three or five rounds.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker Set for Heavyweight Showdown
Cortes-Acosta enters the matchup looking to recover from consecutive decision defeats against Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes. “Salsa Boy” previously built considerable momentum with three fight winning streak featuring knockout wins over Ante Delija, Shamil Gaziev, and Derrick Lewis. However, setbacks against Volkov and Blaydes have stalled his progress. The Dominican heavyweight holds a 17-4 record and needs a victory to avoid a third consecutive loss.
Walker, meanwhile, has an opportunity to break into the heavyweight division’s top 10 after successfully transitioning from light heavyweight. After losing a unanimous decision to Dominick Reyes, the Brazilian moved up to heavyweight and made an immediate impression by knocking out Mick Parkin with a devastating knee at UFC 332.
Now holding a 23-10 record, Walker faces his biggest heavyweight test yet. A victory over Cortes-Acosta could propel him into the division’s top 10.
Cortes-Acosta vs. Walker will headline UFC Vegas 124, while Tatiana Suarez vs. Virna Jandiroba remains the co-main event.
