Noche UFC didn't get its name as an indication the crowd would be snoozing mid-event, but the highlighted heavyweight bout may have done just that.
Curtis Blaydes defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta on Saturday's main card at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Given the fighters' rankings, Blaydes (20-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) vs. Cortes-Acosta (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was expected to have divisional impact. However, with Blaydes defeating Cortes-Acosta over the course of a 15-minute sleepy unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), it's difficult to think the promotion will be putting too much stock into it.
Blaydes, who hadn't competed since his Fight of the Year candidate vs. Josh Hokit at UFC 327 in April, came back with a much more patient game plan. He point-fought
and while he didn't do a whole lot, Cortes-Acosta did even less.
The final stats showed neither man reached the triple digit mark in the "strikes thrown" department. They landed less. Blaydes landed 24 of his 74 strike attempts. Cortes-Acosta landed 28 of 95.
Regardless, a win is a win. Blaydes bounces back from the Hokit loss and moves to 2-1 in his most recent three.
After an 8-1 stretch, Cortes-Acosta has now lost back-to-back fights.
Up-to-the-minute Noche UFC results include:
- Curtis Blaydes def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- David Martinez def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Tim Elliott def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ignacio Bahamondes def. Muslim Salikhov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Yousri Belgaroui def. Djorden Santos via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:25
- Tommy Gantt def. Drakkar Klose via submission (reverse triangle choke) – Round 3, 2:46
- Rong Zhu def. Rafa Garcia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Sean King III def. Jessie Rosas via knockout (slam) – Round 1, 0:36
- Regina Tarin def. JJ Aldrich via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Noche UFC results: Curtis Blaydes outpoints Waldo Cortes-Acosta in lackluster outing
