Johnny Walker could go from struggling light heavyweight to fringe top five heavyweight in six months. Waldo Cortes-Acosta is ready to accept the risky assignment in a short-notice main event.
Cortes-Acosta and Walker weren't scheduled to compete last week. However, after Sean Brady pulled out of his main event against Gabriel Bonfim due to injury, the heavyweights agreed to headline the Meta APEX on roughly eight days' notice. Cortes-Acosta was close to a title shot in January, but struck out against Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes. Now the ex-professional baseball player welcomes a recent addition to the heavyweight division.
Walker fights are always fun, but his recent performances made it clear he wouldn't live up to early expectations. Walker was always a large light heavyweight. He finally committed to a heavyweight campaign, scoring a thunderous knockout against Mick Parkin. Walker, 34, is young enough to make a serious run in his new division. Cortes-Acosta gives him a chance to accelerate.
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Next week, the UFC returns to Madison Square Garden with a pair of massive title fights. In the main event, newly crowned heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane looks to defend his title against fast-rising contender Josh Hokit. In the co-main event, the long-awaited showdown between women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison and women's GOAT Amanda Nunes is set. The two were originally scheduled for January, but Harrison's injury delayed the fight.
Putting a bow on 2026 is BMF champion Charles Oliveira. "Do Bronx" defends the ceremonial title against an unexpected foe. Two-time featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes makes his lightweight debut against one of the best to ever grace the lightweight division. Their striking and grappling acumen promise a dynamic fight wherever it goes.
Take a look below at the current UFC event schedule for 2026. Be sure to check back on this page for more information on upcoming UFC events throughout the year.
Upcoming UFC Schedule
| Event | Date | Main event | Weight class | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC Fight Night | Nov. 7 | Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Johnny Walker | Welterweight | Las Vegas | Paramount+ |
| UFC 334 | Nov. 14 | Ciryl Gane (c) vs. Josh Hokit | Heavyweight title | New York City | Paramount+ |
| UFC Fight Night | Nov. 21 | Jiri Prochazka vs. Navajo Stirling | Light heavyweight | Doha, Qatar | Paramount+ |
| UFC 335 | Dec. 12 | Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes | Lightweight | Las Vegas | Paramount+ |
