UFC Vegas 124 Main Event Change: Cortes-Acosta vs. Walker

The UFC has replaced the canceled Brady vs. Bonfim welterweight bout with a heavyweight matchup between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker for the UFC Vegas 124 main event.

The UFC managed to put an entirely new main event fight together for UFC Vegas 124 on less than two weeks’ notice. UFC Vegas 124 was originally supposed to be headlined by a huge welterweight clash between Sean Brady and Gabriel Bonfim, who was set to try and Sean Brady prior to the fight against Joaquin Buckley during UFC 328 at Prudential Center.

| IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The update left the UFC in a difficult position, and rather than scramble to find a new opponent for Bonfim the promotion has booked a heavyweight fight between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker as the card’s new main event fights Robelis Despaigne during UFC Fight Night at Enterprise Center.

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| USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectAlexander Volkov fights Waldo Cortes-Acosta during UFC 328 at Prudential Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Cortes-Acosta looked to be on the cusp of a title shot when he was matched with Alexander Volkov at UFC 328 but came up short on the scorecards, and the Dominican now finds himself on the first two-fight skid of his career after he also lost to Curtis Blaydes in September.

“Salsa Boy” will try to get back on track next weekend when he meets a new addition to the heavyweight division, as Walker debuted in the weight class earlier this month following a lengthy run with the UFC as a light heavyweight. Johnny Walker reacts after the fight against Mick Parkin during UFC 332 at Delta Center.

| IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect, Walker immediately made name for himself when he stopped his first three UFC opponents in the first round and secured “Performance of the Night” bonuses for all of those victories. Dominick Reyes fights Johnny Walker during UFC 327 at Kaseya Center.

| IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect That initial run of success was followed by a difficult 1-4 stretch, although the Brazilian did return to form with three-straight victories before a UFC 294 meeting with Magomed Ankalaev ended in a No Contest when Ankalaev landed an illegal knee in the opening round. Johnny Walker fights Mick Parkin during UFC 332 at Delta Center.

| IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Walker was knocked out in his rematch with Ankalaev and was also stopped by Volkan Oezdemir in the first round, and after dropping a split decision to Dominick Reyes in April the 34-year-old moved up to heavyweight at UFC 332 and brutally knocked out Mick Parkin to earn another “Performance of the Night” bonus. Drew is an MMA writer that regularly watches regional events in addition to major promotions such as the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and ONE Championship. He joined MMA Knockout when it was founded in 2023.