Waldo Cortes Acosta wonders how Curtis Blaydes has recovered since his war with Josh Hokit.
Cortes Acosta (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) meets Blaydes (19-6 MMA, 14-6 UFC) on Saturday's UFC Fight Night 288 (Paramount+) main card at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Blaydes is coming off an all-out war against Josh Hokit at UFC 327 in April, where he fell short in a Fight of the Night slugfest.
"Brutal, brutal fight," Cortes Acosta told MMA Junkie Radio. "I don't know how damaged he got in the brain. I don't know how he's thinking about the fight now. ...There's different power and different speed here now."
Cortes Acosta has called out Blaydes on numerous occasions and is happy to finally get his wish at Noche UFC.
"Him talking a long time ago a lot
of sh*t, he can be beat me in the wrestling and beat me in the boxing, that I don't have nothing," Cortes Acosta said. "I'm going to show him who 'Salsa Boy' is in the ring this Saturday."
The 34-year-old will look to pick up right where he left off after Alexander Volkov snapped his three-fight winning streak at UFC 328 in May.
"We're here with Curtis Blaydes and we catch me the momentum," Cortes Acosta said. "Because I go for fight, I don't go to play with anybody. I go for fight this Saturday, and I have to do my best. The company see me, I'm prepared for the future, the undisputed championship."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Waldo Cortes Acosta warns Curtis Blaydes about power after 'brutal' Josh Hokit fight
