Cortes-Acosta vs Walker Set as New UFC Vegas 124 Headliner

Waldo Cortes-Acosta will face Johnny Walker in a new five-round heavyweight main event at UFC Vegas 124 on November 7 after Sean Brady withdrew from the original welterweight headliner against Gabriel Bonfim through injury. Brazilian reporter Laerte Viana first broke the news of the booking, which pairs the No. 8-ranked Cortes-Acosta against the No. 12-ranked Walker inside the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old Dominican has dropped back-to-back fights to Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov after knocking out Derrick Lewis, Shamil Gaziev and Ante Delija in three straight, and will look to snap his skid while protecting his top-10 ranking. Walker moved up to heavyweight after a decision loss to Dominick Reyes at light heavyweight and flattened Mick Parkin with a knee in under four minutes earlier this month. A win would carry Walker into the heavyweight top 10 in his first five-round bout at 265 pounds. The co-main event between Virna Jandiroba and Tatiana Suarez remains intact.