Waldo Cortes-Acosta It is Robelis Despaigne face off on Saturday in the UFC main card opener on ESPN 56 from the Enterprise Center in St. Check out this quick summary of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta x Robelis Despaigne UFC in ESPN 56 preview
Cortes-Acosta (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Despaigne (19-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) kick off the main card with a heavyweight fight that may not make it past the first round. … Cortes-Acosta has won his last two fights, stopping Lukas Brzeski in the first round with punches and winning a unanimous decision over former champion Andrei Arlovski in his first fight of the year in January. … Despaigne brings his undefeated record to the UFC octagon for the second time, after an impressive debut that he won by knockout in just 18 seconds. The Cuban Olympian has not seen the second round in his young professional MMA career.
Expert Pick Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Robelis Despaigne, Prediction
Even though we have surefire action fights like Terrance McKinney and Esteban Ribovics stuck in the prelims (not to mention a continually underserved men’s flyweight division), the powers that be continue to double down on the big boys by force-feeding us heavyweights unproven in Fight Nightly main cards.
In defense of UFC matchmakers, both Cortes-Acosta and Despaigne are considered contenders – at least by heavyweight standards.
Despaigne, who appears to be the division’s new attraction, is an undeniable athletic force who comes from an Olympic-level taekwondo background. The Cuban fighter is still green with a small sample size, but that doesn’t stop MMA players from betting on Despaigne at the betting window, with their fists clenched.
Cortes-Acosta may be the most hated fighter since Ihot Potieria did his ‘duelist dance’ over the lifeless body of Mauricio Rua in Brazil.
Already possessing a style that arguably shoots itself in the foot with its flash-to-function ratio, Cortes-Acosta decided to double down on his improbability by openly disrespecting UFC legend Andrei Arlovski in his latest fight.
I hope we get to see more of Despaigne regardless of the outcome here, but I’ll take the bait by making the cathartic prediction of picking “The Big Boy” to emphatically knock out Cortes-Acosta at the end of the first round.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Robelis Despaigne odds
Oddsmakers and the public favor the less proven heavyweight, listing Despaigne at a healthy -250, with Cortes-Acosta as a +198 underdog via FanDuel. Cortes-Acosta has just one loss in five UFC fights, and it was the only other time he was listed as an underdog; he lost a unanimous decision to Marcos Rogério de Lima. The undefeated Despaigne’s UFC debut lasted just 18 seconds, and he entered the fight against Josh Parisian as a -400 favorite.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta x Robelis Despaigne, start time, how to watch
As main card openers, Cortes-Acosta and Despaigne are expected to make their way shortly after the main card begins, around 7:05 pm ET (4:05 pm PT). The fight is broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+.
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC on ESPN 56.
For a more in-depth analysis of Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Your Neck podcast.”
