UFC Fight Night results, live updates as Waldo Cortes Acosta, Johnny Walker headline fight card in Las Vegas

Raposo welcomes Delgi to the UFC in tonight's main card opener. Delgi makes the quick turnaround, five weeks after earning a UFC contract on "Dana White's Contender Series". Delgi is one of the more promising "Contender Series" graduates. The former LFA flyweight champion is a training partner of Carlos Prates, the latter of whom fights for the interim UFC welterweight title in January.

Raposo finds his footing after split-decision losses in his first two UFC fights. Since then, he's won two straight.

Cortes Acosta, and Walker are taking serious risks by accepting this short-notice main event. Cortes Acosta could lose his No. 6 heavyweight ranking to an unranked opponent. Meanwhile, Walker isn't allowing himself to slowly acclimate to his new division as planned. 

The fight will likely go one of two ways: a knockout win for Cortes Acosta or a decision for Walker. Cortes Acosta, a former professional baseball pitcher, has fast hands. He could catch Cortes Acosta with a counter right hook, especially when entering or exiting clinches. Walker has the range and footwork to pick away at Costa for five rounds. It's the game plan Walker's teammate, Alexander Volkov, used to beat Cortes Acosta in May. 

So which heavyweight will have their hand raised tonight? Take a look at CBS Sports' complete breakdown and prediction below.

UFC Fight Night predictions -- Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Johnny Walker: Fight card, odds and expert picks

Shakiel Mahjouri

Walker's initial rise through the UFC was surreal. A string of highlight-reel knockouts in 2018 and 2019 convinced people that he could become light heavyweight champion, but he never reached those heights. Some seven years later, Walker — older, wiser, and heavier — aims to correct the mistakes that derailed his early potential.

"Consistency and the right team behind you," Walker told CBS Sports ahead of tonight's main event against Waldo Cortes Acosta. "Nutrition and injury prevention. Be consistent and train year-round. Don't take long holidays and have good people behind you that you believe in. They spent that time working on you with you, and I have the best team now."

Walker was cutting north of 40 pounds to make light heavyweight. His fight with Dominick Reyes earlier this year was the final straw. 

"I said, 'Bro, I think this is the last one.' I was getting a little bit too dizzy, too weak," Walker explained. "One month before the fight, I had to drop so much weight that I couldn't even train hard anymore. I felt like this, so I had to stop."

After a spectacular UFC heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin, Walker could break into the heavyweight elite with a short-notice win over Cortes Acosta tonight.

Johnny Walker's second act: How the eccentric knockout artist is resetting himself as a heavyweight

Shakiel Mahjouri

Cortes Acosta isn't worried about Walker's secret weapon. Walker is a primary training partner of Alexander Volkov, the top heavyweight contender who beat Cortes Acosta earlier this year. Walker is confident he can finish his opponent, but Cortes Acosta wonders what Volkov could possibly teach him about knocking people out.

"I heard he told somebody, 'Oh, I know I can knock out Waldo Cortes right now because I train with Alexander Volkov.' But my question is, 'Did Alexander Volkov knock me out?' No. What is he learning from Alexander Volkov? Kicking and running away for his life," Cortes Acosta told CBS Sports. "If this is what you're learning, I'll chase you anywhere. I prepare for people like you or him. I'm well prepared, and I'll go for your head."

Waldo Cortes Acosta believes Johnny Walker is learning to run 'for his life' from Alexander Volkov

Shakiel Mahjouri

LAS VEGAS -- The last Meta APEX card of the year has arrived. We're seated here Octagon-side for tonight's card. Stay posted for main card recaps, including video highlights, culminating in the heavyweight clash between Waldo Cortes Acosta and Johnny Walker.