Following the dramatic and heavily discussed conclusion of UFC Vegas 123, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization returns to its familiar home base at the Meta Apex for UFC Vegas 124. The upcoming card features a fascinating mix of short-notice adjustments, rising prospects eager to break through, and veteran contenders looking to cement their status in their respective divisions.
While the evening was originally slated to be anchored by a high-stakes welterweight clash between Sean Brady and Gabriel Bonfim, those plans were forced to change after Brady sustained a leg injury during training camp. Stepping into the spotlight on relatively short notice is a compelling heavyweight matchup between hard-hitting contenders Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker.
Cortes-Acosta enters the main event looking to right the ship and bounce back from a pair of consecutive decision losses. Most recently, he dropped a hard-fought decision to Alexander Volkov at Noche UFC 4 just a couple of months ago. Known for his durability and heavy hands, Cortes-Acosta will need to navigate the unpredictable and explosive offense of his opponent to secure a victory on the promotion’s latest Apex card.
Across the Octagon, Johnny Walker is making a remarkably quick turnaround following his successful heavyweight debut last month at UFC 332. In that outing, Walker delivered a stunning, highlight-reel knockout against Mick Parkin, signaling that his transition to the heavier weight class could bring a new level of power and dynamism. Now thrust into a main event slot at UFC Vegas 124, Walker has an opportunity to string together consecutive victories in the heavyweight division and make a serious statement to the rest of the roster.
The co-main event offers a high-level technical showcase in the women’s strawweight division, pitting former title challengers Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba against one another in a clash of elite grapplers. Suarez has steadily worked her way back toward title contention, winning two straight fights since the lone defeat of her professional MMA career. Most recently, she put on a dominant grappling display to submit Loopy Godinez at UFC 327.
Jandiroba, meanwhile, has also been on a successful trajectory since her own unsuccessful title challenge. She rebounded strongly by earning a decisive victory over Tabatha Ricci at UFC Vegas 115 in April. The matchup between Suarez and Jandiroba promises to be a fascinating tactical chess match, carrying significant implications for the future landscape of the strawweight division.
TATIANA SUAREZ VS VIRNA JANDIROBA
When two elite wrestling and grappling practitioners lock horns inside the Octagon, fights typically unfold in one of two ways. Either both competitors choose to test their skills in the stand-up department, or the bout transforms into a gritty, high-stakes tactical battle centered around positional dominance. For fans of pure wrestling and grappling, the latter scenario is expected to take center stage when Tatiana Suarez meets Virna Jandiroba.
Suarez is widely recognized as a physically imposing and suffocating wrestler who utilizes relentless pressure and exceptional top control to wear down her opponents once the fight hits the canvas. On the other side, Jandiroba is a world-class jiu-jitsu practitioner who poses a constant and lethal threat from virtually any position, including off her back. For Jandiroba, ground exchanges are not a place to stall, but rather an active weapon where she hunts relentlessly for submissions.
The ultimate question for this co-main event is whether Jandiroba’s intricate submission skillset can be successfully imposed against Suarez, who stands out as the superior wrestler and the stronger athlete physically between the two. Jandiroba will need to be proactive in initiating and controlling the action when the fight inevitably reaches the mat. If Suarez is the one dictating the takedowns and stopping Jandiroba’s guard work, it could spell serious trouble for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace. Analysts and bettors looking at the odds lean toward Suarez to edge out a victory, with a decision victory standing out as a probable outcome in what promises to be a grueling fifteen-minute affair.
DAVEY GRANT VS ELIJAH SMITH
The main card action at UFC Vegas 124 also features a classic stylistic and generational clash between a seasoned veteran and a surging top prospect, often framed as a pivotal passing-of-the-torch moment. Elijah Smith enters the Octagon boasting an impressive 10-1 professional record, anchored by a stellar eight-fight winning streak. Notably, Smith has secured finishes in all three of his UFC appearances to date, showcasing exceptional athleticism, strong wrestling pedigree, and a suffocating pace. His devastating ground-and-pound following successful takedowns has proven too much for several opponents thus far.
Standing across from the rising prospect is Davey Grant, a durable and experienced 40-year-old English veteran who refuses to fade quietly. Despite his veteran status, Grant has managed to win three of his last four bouts. Throughout his career, Grant has demonstrated remarkable finishing ability, incredible resilience, and a deep willingness to engage in high-intensity striking exchanges.
While Smith poses a formidable threat with both his striking and wrestling capabilities, Grant’s most viable path to victory lies in keeping the fight on the feet. If the veteran can successfully stuff Smith’s early takedown attempts and establish himself as the more active and accurate striker, he has the tools to turn the bout into a punishing, back-and-forth war that will truly test the young prospect’s limits. Should Smith manage to bypass the veteran’s defenses, however, fight fans could witness another signature highlight-reel performance from the fighter known as "Swift." Oddsmakers and analysts lean toward Smith to secure a stoppage victory via knockout, technical knockout, or disqualification as he looks to continue his climb up the ranks.
PRISCILLA CACHOEIRA VS NINA MILOSEVIC
Rounding out the main card matchups is an intriguing women’s flyweight bout between Priscila Cachoeira and Nina Milosevic. Cachoeira is known for her aggressively forward-moving style, constantly marching forward to apply pressure and search for a fight-ending blow with the heavy power in her hands. However, Cachoeira has experienced a difficult run inside the Octagon, holding a 5-9 UFC record and an overall professional mark of 13-9. Having dropped three consecutive fights and five of her last six, she enters this matchup facing immense pressure to turn her momentum around.
Her opponent, Nina Milosevic, represents a dangerous and rapidly ascending challenge. A two-time IMMAF world champion with a background deeply rooted in both karate and jiu-jitsu, Milosevic made a statement in her promotional debut by securing a first-round knockout victory over Hailey Cowan. Entering this bout riding a nine-fight winning streak—having tasted defeat only once in her professional debut—Milosevic brings a diverse and well-rounded skill set to the cage.
For Cachoeira to find success against a technical and youthful opponent, she must drag the fight into a chaotic, brawling pace where her raw punching power can become a game-changing factor. At the same time, Milosevic appears to possess a much wider array of technical tools, superior momentum, and youth on her side. Given that Cachoeira has historically absorbed a significant amount of damage over the course of her UFC career, Milosevic enters the matchup as the favorite to capitalize on those openings, with indicators pointing toward a swift and decisive conclusion before the final bell sounds.