Waldo Cortes-Acosta continued his ascent up the heavyweight rankings with a stunning second-round knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC 324.
Cortes-Acosta exercised caution early as Lewis threw kicks both high and low in the opening round. Cortes-Acosta eventually caught one of Lewis’ kicks and used it to put ‘The Black Beast’ on the mat. Unable to capitalize, Cortes-Acosta inevitably let Lewis back to his feet with a minute to go in the first round.
Neither fighter offered up any additional offense before heading back to their corners.
Things started to pick up in the second, with Cortes-Acosta landing a cracking right hand in the opening minute of the round. Cortes-Acosta also found success by utilizing his leg kicks and jabs. Lewis attempted to respond with a left hook, but came up just short.
With two minutes to go in the round, Cortes-Acosta appeared to connect with a right that knocked down Lewis. Upon replay, it appeared to be more of a slip, but Cortes-Acosta capitalized nonetheless. Jumping on top of Lewis, Cortes-Acosta unleashed a flurry of uncontested strikes that forced the referee to step in and stop the contest.
Official Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis via TKO (ground and pound) at 3:14 of Round 2.
