Rising heavyweights Marcos Rogerio de Lima and Waldo Cortes-Acosta threw down on the UFC Vegas 72 main card on Saturday — with the winner within striking distance of a ranking.
Brazil’s de Lima was 3-1 across his last four fights, including stoppages of notable heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski. Cortes-Acosta had yet to taste defeat in the UFC, or in his career period, with a 9-0 record to start the night.
Early on, de Lima attacked with kicks, while patiently walked Cortes-Acosta down. Soon, Cortes-Acosta was grabbing at his leg, with one in particular wobbling the big man. Brazil’s de Lima had scouted his opponent well, as Cortes-Acosta had proven vulnerable to leg kicks in the past. With the Dominican fighter concerned about those attacks, de Lima opted to land a takedown — gaining a bit of control time, if little else, before letting Cortes-Acosta back up.
Gradually, de Lima mixed in a jab with his kick. Cortes-Acosta fired his right hand, but a weak takedown attempt was fought off. He stayed on de Lima, however, taking the fight to the fence and using underhooks to control the Brazilian. de Lima reversed; they broke with just under a minute left in the round. Another leg kick landed for de Lima; Cortes-Acosta tried to answer back with one of his own, but it was nowhere near as effective.
Round two opened with more nasty leg kicks by Marcos Rogerio de Lima. Just over 90 seconds in, he hoisted up Cortes-Acosta — an impressive sight, frankly — and took him down with authority. Cortes-Acosta would make his way back up, only for a trip to send him back down. de Lima was in the driver’s seat, executing his game plan near perfectly: leg kicks to wear away at Cortes-Acosta’s movement, takdowns to control him.
At the end of the round, Cortes-Acosta finally checked a kick, and briefly went on the attack, only to be left fending off another takedown attempt.
Round three saw Waldo Cortes-Acosta walking rather gingerly on his lead leg. The pace of the fight had slowed, however, but another de Lima leg kick nearly spun the Dominican around. Cortes-Acosta still had a puncher’s chance, but little more, and at the end of the round, he ate another painful-looking leg kick to underscore what was very much looking like his Achilles heel.
Official Result: Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
