Where can I watch Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis?

Watch the embedded video near the beginning of this article. Its availability depends on the video remaining accessible on YouTube.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Derrick Lewis during their UFC 324 heavyweight fight.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis: Full Fight, UFC 324

Q: Why is Derrick Lewis known as The Black Beast?

The Black Beast is Lewis's nickname. He is widely known for his punching power and ability to finish opponents with knockout strikes.

Heavyweight MMA is a division where a single clean punch can change everything. Every exchange carries danger, and even the most experienced fighter must respect the power coming from the other side of the Octagon.

When Waldo Cortes-Acosta faced Derrick Lewis, two very different heavyweight threats collided. Cortes-Acosta brought measured combinations, composure, and growing momentum. Lewis entered with the reputation of one of the UFC's most dangerous knockout artists, a veteran capable of ending a fight with a single explosive strike.

The matchup delivered a tense opening before Cortes-Acosta found his rhythm and turned the contest in his favor. A clean counter in the second round hurt Lewis, and a follow-up barrage on the ground forced the referee to intervene.

The result was a second-round TKO victory for Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026. It was a major win for the Dominican heavyweight and another reminder that patience and accuracy can be just as important as raw power.

Watch Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis — Full Fight

The video below features the heavyweight matchup between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Derrick Lewis. The fight took place at UFC 324 in Las Vegas, not UFC Vegas 124.

Watch how both fighters approach the opening exchanges, how Cortes-Acosta manages the danger posed by Lewis's power, and how the contest changes when the Dominican fighter begins landing more consistently.

Two Heavyweights With Different Strengths

Waldo Cortes-Acosta: Calm Pressure and Accurate Striking

Waldo Cortes-Acosta, nicknamed “Salsa Boy,” built his UFC reputation through consistent performances and increasingly effective striking. The Dominican heavyweight combines boxing fundamentals with the ability to maintain a steady pace against dangerous opponents.

His style is not based exclusively on throwing the hardest possible punch. He can use his jab to measure distance, vary his combinations, and wait for opponents to commit before answering with counters.

Against an explosive puncher, this kind of approach can be valuable. A fighter who rushes forward without considering the return fire risks walking directly into a knockout shot. Cortes-Acosta instead looked for opportunities to strike while remaining ready to move out of danger.

By the time he faced Lewis, Cortes-Acosta had already scored notable heavyweight knockouts and established himself as a contender worth watching. The fight offered another opportunity to demonstrate that his technique could hold up against one of the division's most recognizable finishers.

Derrick Lewis: The Power of “The Black Beast”

Derrick Lewis has spent years building a reputation around extraordinary punching power. Known as “The Black Beast,” he is capable of turning a difficult fight around with one clean connection.

Lewis's approach often involves absorbing pressure, looking for openings, and unleashing powerful overhand punches or hooks when an opponent enters range. His style can appear deceptively simple, but the danger lies in how quickly he can capitalize on a mistake.

That threat forces opponents to make careful decisions. They must balance offense with defense, avoid predictable entries, and resist the temptation to exchange power shots without a clear advantage.

Lewis entered the matchup with extensive UFC experience and a history of heavyweight knockouts. Even when an opponent appears to be controlling the fight, his ability to finish remains a constant concern.

UFC 324: A Heavyweight Matchup With Serious Stakes

The fight took place on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. It brought together a rising contender and an established veteran whose finishing ability had made him a familiar name to MMA fans.

For Cortes-Acosta, defeating Lewis meant more than adding another victory to his record. It was an opportunity to prove that his composure and technical striking could overcome a heavyweight with a reputation for spectacular knockouts.

For Lewis, the bout represented another chance to show that his power could still threaten a contender moving toward the top of the division.

The tactical challenge was clear. Cortes-Acosta needed to create openings without remaining in range for Lewis's biggest punches. Lewis needed to land cleanly before his opponent could establish a rhythm with combinations and counters.

The difference between those two objectives would become increasingly apparent as the fight progressed.

Round One: Reading the Danger

The opening round featured a cautious exchange of strikes. Lewis looked for opportunities to land his powerful right hand, while Cortes-Acosta worked behind his jab and used movement to control the distance.

Lewis connected with a right hand early enough to remind his opponent that standing within range carried significant risk. Cortes-Acosta responded by finding his own punches, including straight shots and counters that began to interrupt Lewis's forward movement.

Cortes-Acosta also demonstrated patience when the fight briefly reached the ground. Rather than immediately following Lewis into a potentially dangerous position, he managed the situation and returned the contest to the standing exchanges.

The key was discipline. Against a heavyweight with Lewis's power, a fighter cannot assume that an opponent is beaten simply because a combination lands. Every entry needs to be considered, and every defensive movement must account for the possibility of a sudden counter.

As the round progressed, Cortes-Acosta appeared increasingly comfortable using his reach, footwork, and jab. Lewis remained dangerous, but he had to work harder to connect cleanly.

Round Two: Cortes-Acosta Finds the Opening

The second round brought the decisive shift.

Lewis continued looking for powerful attacks, but Cortes-Acosta used movement and feints to make him hesitate. The Dominican fighter kept working with his jab and counterpunching, forcing Lewis to deal with a more consistent stream of offense.

Then Cortes-Acosta landed a clean right hand that visibly hurt Lewis. The veteran responded with another attempt to fire back, but Cortes-Acosta was able to capitalize on the opening.

A further counter sent Lewis to the canvas. Cortes-Acosta followed him down and delivered heavy ground-and-pound strikes as Lewis tried to defend himself.

Referee Jason Herzog stepped in to stop the fight, awarding Cortes-Acosta a second-round technical knockout victory.

The finish demonstrated the importance of recognizing when an opponent is hurt. Cortes-Acosta did not allow the opportunity to disappear. He followed through with decisive offense until the referee determined that Lewis could no longer defend himself intelligently.

It was a clear and significant finish against a dangerous veteran.

Why Cortes-Acosta's Strategy Worked

Several factors helped explain the result.

Patience under pressure: Cortes-Acosta did not treat the fight as a contest to see who could throw the biggest punch. He worked to create favorable opportunities while respecting Lewis's power.

Effective use of the jab: The jab helped Cortes-Acosta measure distance, interrupt Lewis's attacks, and establish a more consistent striking rhythm.

Counterpunching: Rather than relying exclusively on leading attacks, Cortes-Acosta responded when Lewis committed. His right hand in the second round changed the contest.

Decisive follow-up: Once Lewis was hurt and went down, Cortes-Acosta continued attacking until the referee intervened. The finish showed the value of converting a successful counter into a decisive sequence.

None of these factors means that Lewis lacked skill or that the outcome was inevitable. Heavyweight fights can turn in an instant. On this night, however, Cortes-Acosta combined accuracy and composure at the moment that mattered most.

What the Victory Meant for Waldo Cortes-Acosta

The win strengthened Cortes-Acosta's position among the heavyweight contenders and marked one of the most important victories of his UFC career at the time.

Beating Lewis also demonstrated that Cortes-Acosta could handle a dangerous opponent whose knockout power demanded constant attention. It was not simply a matter of landing more punches; he had to manage risk while creating opportunities of his own.

Following the fight, Cortes-Acosta called for a matchup with Curtis Blaydes, signaling his desire to test himself against another established heavyweight.

The victory did not guarantee an immediate title opportunity. The heavyweight division is competitive, and rankings depend on subsequent results, available matchups, and decisions by the promotion. Still, stopping a respected veteran is a meaningful achievement for any contender.

Derrick Lewis: Why He Remains Dangerous

A loss by TKO does not erase Lewis's accomplishments or the danger he presents in future fights. His power remains one of the most recognizable weapons in heavyweight MMA, and his career has demonstrated that he can produce dramatic finishes even in difficult situations.

The matchup with Cortes-Acosta highlighted a challenge that all heavyweights face when fighting accurate counterstrikers: committing to a power shot can leave an opening for an opponent who is prepared to respond.

For Lewis, the fight offered another example of how quickly a contest can change when an opponent lands cleanly. For future opponents, it also showed that engaging with Lewis requires more than a defensive game plan. They must identify opportunities to score while avoiding the exchanges that favor his greatest strength.

Final Verdict: A Statement Win in the Heavyweight Division

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis was a compelling example of how technical striking can overcome raw knockout power. Lewis brought his reputation and experience into the Octagon, but Cortes-Acosta stayed composed, found openings, and finished the contest with a decisive second-round TKO.

The result was important for Cortes-Acosta's rise in the division and added another chapter to Lewis's long heavyweight career.

For fans, the fight is worth watching for the contrast between their approaches: Lewis's explosive power against Cortes-Acosta's measured striking and accurate counters.

Who impressed you more in this matchup: Waldo Cortes-Acosta with his patience and precision, or Derrick Lewis with his ever-present knockout threat? Share your opinion in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis?

Waldo Cortes-Acosta defeated Derrick Lewis by technical knockout in the second round at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026.

How did Cortes-Acosta finish Derrick Lewis?

Cortes-Acosta hurt Lewis with a counter right hand, dropped him with another counter, and followed with ground-and-pound strikes until the referee stopped the contest.

Was this fight part of UFC Vegas 124?

No. The fight took place at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. UFC Vegas 124 is a separate event.

What are Waldo Cortes-Acosta's strengths?

Cortes-Acosta is known for his boxing, jab, combinations, distance management, and ability to remain composed against dangerous heavyweight opponents.