Not a whole lot happened in this heavyweight fight tonight at UFC Fight Night 288, aka Noche UFC 4, but nonetheless, Curtis Blaydes did enough to beat Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision.

Round One

Glancing overhand from Blaydes and then closes the distance to press Cortes-Acosta up against the cage.

Cortes-Acosta able to move away to the center of the cage. Blaydes with a low kick.

Jab for Cortes-Acosta. Now a low kick. Jab for Blaydes. Light inside leg kick from Blaydes.

Calf kick for Blaydes. Inside leg kick from Cortes-Acosta and a counter-punch from Blaydes.

Right hand for Cortes-Acosta. Now he pumps out the jab. Blaydes drives in for a takedown in the final minute of the round and lands it. Side control for Blaydes and then steps over trying to work for an arm-triangle set-up, but quickly gives up on that and just opts for control on top in the final seconds of the round.

Round Two

Brief exchange of punches. Light calf kick from Blaydes. Blaydes in on a takedown and lands it, but Cortes-Acosta stands up quickly. Blaydes still on him though and brings him back down.

Cortes-Acosta trying to build his base and stand, but Blaydes brings him back down to all-fours. Cortes-Acosta back up again against the cage though and Blaydes remains clinched up.

Cortes-Acosta pushes him away. Right hand from Cortes-Acosta tries to crash through Blaydes guard.

Inside kick from Blaydes. Both fire off a power right at the same time, but don’t connect.

Calf kick from Blaydes. Both punch to the body. Jab for Blaydes. Now a right hand from Cortes-Acosta.

Blaydes comes forward and lands a couple of punches. Solid punch connects for Cortes-Acosta. These striking moments are few and far between though and the crowd boo’s their disapproval as the round ends.

Round Three

Cortes-Acosta tries to land his right hand, but Blaydes lands with a calf kick.

Inside leg kick for Cortes-Acosta. Another calf kick for Blaydes. He thinks about a takedown, but its just a fake this time.

Body kick for Blaydes. Inside leg kick for him. Blaydes gets in and lands a trip takedown. Cortes-Acosta stands against the cage, but Blaydes is still around to his back and working to bring him down again. Not much happening from here though and they eventually separate.

Left hook lands for Blaydes. Now a leg kick. He lands another. Jab for Cortes-Acosta.

Final minute and it’s still a bit of a staring contest here. Fast right hand from Cortes-Acosta. Leg kick for Blaydes.

Decision

This was a dull uneventful heavyweight fight, but Blaydes takedowns gave him the upper-hand to secure a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).