Fast hands and heavy strikes are on deck when heavyweights Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ante Delija square off in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, and the winner will quickly find themselves in striking distance of a title shot.
Former PFL standout Delija is the -135 favorite while Cortes-Acosta is a +110 underdog. Here are my Cortes-Acosta vs. Delija predictions and free betting picks from Las Vegas.
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Cortes-Acosta vs Delija prediction and best bet
- My fight prediction: Delija moneyline (-135 at BET99)
- My best bet: Delija to win by decision (+310 at BET99)
Fight analysis
Waldo Cortes-Acosta enters this bout looking to rebound after a flat performance against Sergei Pavlovich, where the limits of his cautious, low-risk approach showed that he might have hit his ceiling. While his speed, athleticism, and movement should have been enough to make that fight competitive, he spent too much time respecting Pavlovich’s power. That hesitancy could cost him again in this fight.
Ante Delija is all wrong for Cortes-Acosta. A longtime PFL heavyweight contender and Tom Aspinall’s main training partner, Delija combines sharp boxing fundamentals with strong grappling and legit finishing power. His one-round demolition of Marcin Tybura showed that there’s something there, though Cortes-Acosta will be a better barometer of his skills. Delija’s hands are fast and heavy, and he's a capable grappler. Essentially, he’s an improved version of Cortes-Acosta
Cortes-Acosta’s athleticism and volume have taken him this far, but that mix has been against opponents who cannot match his speed or contain his movement. Delija’s compact striking and pressure should take away Cortes-Acosta’s ability to dictate tempo, and his power might cause Cortes-Acosta to rethink his options. If Cortes-Acosta tries to box from range, Delija’s timing and counters will close the gap. If he tries to wrestle, he’ll run into the stronger, more technically sound grappler.
To his credit, Cortes-Acosta is durable and has solid cardio. Should he be first in the exchanges and get his hands moving, he'll have a chance to outwork Delija. However, I think he’ll spend most of this fight backing up, reacting, and losing exchanges. Delija is the pick.
Best bet analysis
Cortes-Acosta’s durability should make it a lock that this fight goes Over 2.5 rounds, but Delija’s better skill set should tell the story of the fight. Eventually, Delija’s precision and tighter striking will make its mark, though he’ll stop short of knocking Cortes-Acosta out. My best bet is Delija to win by decision.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Ante Delija odds
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | Cortes-Acosta | Delija |
| To win outright | +105 | -135 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +350 | +235 |
| To win by decision | +255 | +305 |
| To win by submission | +2700 | +850 |
| Draw | +5000 | +5000 |
Odds as of 11-1.
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Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Ante Delija tale of the tape
| Cortes-Acosta | Delija | |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Age | 35 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-3 |
| Heavyweight | Weight Class | Heavyweight |
| 78 inches | Reach | 78 inches |
| 14-2 | Record | 26-6 |
| 6 | Wins by KO | 4 |
| 1 | Wins by submission | 1 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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