The lone heavyweight fight at UFC 316 on Saturday found Serghei Spivac paired up with Waldo Cortes-Acosta, in what promised to be a hard-hitting affair.
It certainly was early, with Spivac, a well-travelled Moldovan heavyweight, connecting a couple of times in the opening minute, drawing an immediate reaction from the crowd. “The Polar Bear” then backed Cortes-Acosta up against the fence, and caught a leg kick, dumping the former baseball player; to his credit, Cortes-Acosta quickly made his way back to his feet.
Spivac, however, stayed heavy on the Dominican fighter. And near the midway mark of the round, Cortes-Acosta appeared to stumble, though how hurt he was, if at all, was a question. In any case, moments later he was connecting to the body, so very much still in the fight.
Round two opened with Spivac again holding center, walking forward— then being forced to back off as Cortes-Acosta swung for the fences. “Salsa Boy” certainly hadn’t lost any of his power, and he mixed in a few leg kicks that soon had Spivac’s lead leg glowing red. Yet despite that, Spivac’s movement did not appeared to be hampered, at least not yet. And by the end of the frame, Cortes-Acosta had slowed a step, in part thanks to upping his output. Spivac, for his part, kept a steady pace up throughout.
The third frame opened with Cortes-Acosta flashing his left hand. But about a minute in, Spivac connected; Cortes-Acosta wobbled and walked back, but appeared to be attempting to lure Spivac in. Spivac would go on the attack again a moment later; Cortes-Acosta covered up, and returned fire as it was Spivac’s turn to keep his guard up.
They’d battle it out to the final bell, with Spivac arguably having taken the first, Cortes-Acosta the second, and the third being the deciding round. All three judges ended up awarding the fight to Waldo Cortes-Acosta, with one shockingly giving him all three rounds. The crowd was not pleased, and let their voices be heard after the fact.
Official Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Serghei Spivac by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
