{"id":306546,"date":"2025-11-25T19:38:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T19:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/306546\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T19:38:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T19:38:09","slug":"ufc-reportedly-trying-to-grant-fighters-insane-turnaround-request-for-ufc-323","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/306546\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC reportedly trying to grant fighter’s insane turnaround request for UFC 323"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UFC is reportedly trying to find top-ranked heavyweight Waldo Cortes-Acosta an opponent for the promotion\u2019s final PPV event of the year. <\/p>\n

The world\u2019s leading MMA promotion is currently on a break for Thanksgiving week before closing out 2025 with a pair of cards in December, and last Saturday the UFC traveled to Doha, Qatar for the very first time for a UFC Fight Night event. <\/p>\n

UFC Qatar was supposed to see Shamil Gaziev take on fellow heavyweight contender Serghei Spivac before Spivac withdrew during fight week, which set the stage for Cortes-Acosta to step in and stop Gaziev <\/a>for his second victory in less than a month. <\/p>\n

Waldo Cortes-Acosta Seeks Sixth UFC Fight Of 2025<\/p>\n

Stepping in on three days\u2019 notice to knock out another top heavyweight in Gaziev would have been impressive enough, but UFC Qatar also saw Cortes-Acosta return to action just three weeks after a controversial first-round finish of Ante Delija<\/a> at UFC Vegas 110.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Islam Makhachev’s next title fight could be set after latest UFC rankings update<\/a><\/p>\n

Now sitting at #5 in the UFC heavyweight rankings, \u201cSalsa Boy\u201d made headlines during his post-fight interview when he asked for another quick turnaround to fight in December. Cortes-Acosta began the year with back-to-back wins to bring his overall win streak to five before losing to Sergei Pavlovich in August, and a December return would mark his sixth Octagon outing of the year. <\/p>\n

\"Waldo<\/p>\n

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Serghei Spivac (red gloves) during UFC 316 at Prudential Center. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old specifically mentioned the promotion\u2019s year-ending UFC Fight Night event<\/a> in Las Vegas on December 13, but Danny Segura<\/a> reports that the UFC is actively trying to book the Dominican to fight a week earlier at UFC 323 on December 6. <\/p>\n

“Salsa Boy” Could Join Already-Stacked UFC 323 Card<\/p>\n

Six fights in a year and potentially three in just over a month would be an incredible feat for Cortes-Acosta, but it remains to be seen if the UFC will be able to find a suitable opponent for him on just a few weeks\u2019 notice. <\/p>\n

READ MORE: Ex-UFC champion admits there\u2019s \u201cwork to do\u201d after losing back-to-back fights<\/a><\/p>\n

Set to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, UFC 323 will serve as the final PPV event of the ESPN era and features a headlining bantamweight title fight that will see Merab Dvalishvili attempt to defend his belt for the fourth time this year <\/a>in a rematch with Petr Yan. UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja will also meet Joshua Van in the co-main event, and the other three main card bouts all feature former UFC titleholders. <\/p>\n

\"Merab<\/p>\n

Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Cory Sandhagen (blue gloves) during UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

UFC 323 already looks to be at full capacity with 14 fights, but if the UFC can find an opponent for Cortes-Acosta it would be no surprise to see the promotion squeeze that matchup onto an already-stacked card and give \u201cSalsa Boy\u201d a chance to close out the year with three-straight wins.<\/p>\n

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