- Alexander Volkov vs Waldo Cortes Acosta
- UFC Vegas 117
- Meta APEX in Las Vegas
- Saturday, May 9, 2026
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On Saturday, May 9, 2026, Alexander Volkov is set to take on Waldo Cortes Acosta at UFC Vegas 117. The opening odds show Volkov at -149, while Acosta is positioned at +129.
Alexander “Drago” Volkov enters the Octagon with an impressive record of 39 wins and 11 losses (39-11-0). At 37 years old, he weighs 250 lbs and stands tall at 6’7″, boasting an impressive reach of 80″. Meanwhile, his opponent, Waldo “Salsa Boy” Cortes Acosta, weighs in at 260 lbs and measures 6’4″. Cortes Acosta comes in with a record of 17 wins and 2 losses (17-2-0). The 34-year-old has a reach of 78″. In terms of striking statistics, Volkov connects 4.78 significant strikes per minute, while Acosta manages 5.54. Volkov hits 57% of his strikes accurately, while Cortes Acosta has a 49% striking accuracy. On the defensive end, Volkov absorbs 2.86 significant strikes per minute compared to Cortes Acosta’s 3.38; Volkov deflects 53% of strikes, and Acosta successfully defends 56% of incoming strikes.
| UFC Vegas 117 | Alexander Volkov | Waldo Cortes Acosta |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Odds | -149 | +129 |
| Record | 39-11-0 | 17-2-0 |
| Average Fight Time | 13:03 | 10:23 |
| Height | 6’7″ | 6’4″ |
| Weight | 250 lbs | 260 lbs |
| Reach | 80″ | 78″ |
| Strikes Landed Per Minute | 4.78 | 5.54 |
| Striking Accuracy | 57% | 49% |
When it comes to grappling, Alexander Volkov shows stronger skills, achieving a takedown at a rate of 0.57 every three rounds. He successfully executes 66% of his takedown attempts and defends against 68% of takedown attempts against him. In comparison, Cortes Acosta secures 57% of his attempted takedowns and successfully defends against 72% of takedown attempts. Volkov attempts submissions slightly more often, with 0.2 attempts every 15 minutes, while Cortes Acosta averages 0.1 submission attempts in the same time frame.
In his last fight, Alexander Volkov faced Jailton Almeida, securing a split decision victory in the third round. Almeida managed to connect on 27 out of 33 total strikes thrown. Volkov, however, showcased his striking prowess, landing 123 out of 130 total strikes. Significant strikes indicated that Almeida landed 9 out of 10, achieving a 90% accuracy. Volkov countered with a remarkable 88% accuracy, landing 24 out of 27 significant strikes, with 19 of those to the head. Notably, only 11% of Almeida’s strikes and 4% of Volkov’s strikes were tallying from distance.
In his recent Octagon bout, Waldo Cortes Acosta faced Derrick Lewis, winning by a ground punch in round 2. Lewis was effective from distance, landing all significant strikes thrown, while Acosta connected on 61% of his attempts. Acosta landed 70% of significant strikes overall, hitting 44 out of 62 thrown, including 35 out of 53 directed at the head. Lewis managed to land only 8 out of 43 significant strikes in that contest, with just 6 of those aimed at the head, resulting in a total of 8 connections out of 43 thrown.
Key Fights to Watch
Don’t miss the intriguing matchup between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley. Brady enters with a record of 18-2-0 at 33 years old, weighing 170 lbs with a height of 5’10” and a reach of 72″. Buckley, also 5’10” and weighing 170 lbs, holds a career record of 21-7-0. Brady showcases his grappling skills with an average of 3.53 takedowns per three rounds, compared to Buckley’s 1.54 per 15 minutes. Striking-wise, Brady lands 3.96 strikes per minute with an accuracy of 55%, while Buckley connects at 36%, landing 3.88 strikes per minute.
Another exciting fight is set to take place between Jeremy Stephens and King Green. Green looks to improve his record of 34-17-1 (1 NC) at 39 years old, standing 5’10” and weighing 155 lbs. On the other hand, Stephens, also 39 years old and weighing 155 lbs, has a record of 29-22-0 (1 NC) and stands 5’9″. Green showcases solid takedown defense, with a success rate of 72%, while Stephens is successful 38% of the time in his takedown attempts and defends against 62% of his opponent’s attempts. In striking dynamics, Green absorbs 3.58 strikes per minute while delivering 6.38, whereas Stephens absorbs 3.14 strikes per minute and delivers 3.15.
Which fighter do you think will win tonight’s highly anticipated UFC matchup?
Pick: Opt for Alexander Volkov (-149)
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