Monthly report | November 2025: Cortes Acosta Dominates Heavyweight Division
Doha, Qatar – Heavyweight contender Waldo Cortes Acosta delivered two stunning victories in November, solidifying his position as a rising force in the UFC’s 265-pound division. The Dominican fighter finished both opponents within the opening two minutes, showcasing his formidable power and resilience.
Cortes Acosta’s month began with a controversial, yet decisive, win over Ante Delija on November 2nd.The fight was briefly halted midway thru the first round after Delija believed referee Mark smith had stopped the contest. A review confirmed an accidental eye poke by Delija, allowing the bout to resume. Cortes Acosta capitalized, landing a powerful right hand that dropped Delija, followed by ground-and-pound for the finish.
Just days later, on November 23rd, Cortes Acosta stepped in on short notice to face Shamil Gaziev at the UFC’s debut event in Doha, Qatar, replacing the injured Serghei Spivac. Despite the quick turnaround, Cortes Acosta needed only 82 seconds to dispatch Gaziev with a knockout blow.
These two november victories bookend Cortes Acosta’s prior loss to Sergei Pavlovich in Shanghai, bringing his UFC record to 9-2 overall and 16-2 in his professional career. the 34-year-old has playfully embraced the eye-poke incident, appearing with an eye patch, and continues to demonstrate significant striking power.
While further growth against top-ranked opponents is anticipated, Cortes Acosta’s recent performances have earned him consideration for future opportunities within the heavyweight division.
honorable Mentions: Steve Garcia, Christian Leroy Duncan, Chris Padilla, Uros Medic, joseph Morales, Fatima Kline, kyle Daukaus, Ethan Ewing, Michael Morales, Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev, Luke Riley, myktybek Orolbai.
