Career Averages - Julia Avila
Career Averages - Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Julia Avila - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 0 | 54 of 138 | 39% | 57 of 145 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:39 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 73 of 199 | 36% | 75 of 201 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 0 | 24 of 49 | 48% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 32 of 81 | 39% | 32 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 0 | 12 of 35 | 34% | 15 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 17 of 54 | 31% | 17 of 54 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 0 | 18 of 54 | 33% | 18 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 24 of 64 | 37% | 26 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 54 of 138 | 39% | 17 of 86 | 9 of 18 | 28 of 34 | 51 of 134 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 73 of 199 | 36% | 54 of 176 | 11 of 13 | 8 of 10 | 73 of 198 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 24 of 49 | 48% | 5 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 16 of 17 | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 32 of 81 | 39% | 21 of 69 | 5 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 32 of 81 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 12 of 35 | 34% | 4 of 20 | 2 of 6 | 6 of 9 | 12 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 17 of 54 | 31% | 12 of 48 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 17 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 18 of 54 | 33% | 8 of 38 | 4 of 8 | 6 of 8 | 15 of 51 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 24 of 64 | 37% | 21 of 59 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 24 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-440), Avila (+340)
Round 1
There still ain’t no gettin’ offa’ this train we’re on until the middle of April, so strap in and enjoy the ride. We surge through February with a UFC Apex offering, the first of three in the next five weeks for better or worse. Suitably, the event only features a couple ranked competitors and a few names could be on the chopping block should they come up short. Potentially with her back against the wall is bantamweight Avila (9-3, 3-2 UFC), who took 2024 off instead of completely retiring, having lost two of her last three. The same cannot be said for Portugal’s Cavalcanti (8-1, 3-0 UFC) who will be nine years the younger. The ladies touch ‘em up over the oversight of referee Chris Tognoni, and the fights begin. As a note, the old gloves are officially in effect for every UFC card going forward. Cavalcanti in the center of the cage paws out with jabs that clatter off the guard, and Avila gives her back a surprisingly heavy leg kick to think about. Avila kicks on the other side of the leg, and she backs off as Cavalcanti swarms her. Avila circles away to check a kick and let one go, and the two try to find their range from distance. Both lunge with long strikes, and Avila mixes in low kicks. Avila parries a front kick and chews up the Portuguese woman’s front calf, making her shake it out. Cavalcanti jabs a foot to the belly and strings a few punches together, and this activates Avila into start trading. Cavalcanti reaches out with a long left hook to intercept Avila a few times, and she gets a body shot in to further frustrate the geologist. Avila checks a kick and loops a right hand over the top to keep Cavalcanti honest. The woman from Portugal strings together a one-two down the pipe, and she chains a few punches behind it but gets smacked with an overhand right. Cavalcanti leans back to dodge the worst of the swinging strike and connects on Avila, putting in body work to open up the head. Cavalcanti brushes a pair of hooks off the temple, and she wraps a kick around the side. Avila kicks her back at the end of the round.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 2
Cavalcanti is the aggressor to start off the second round, having found her preferred range with jabs and kicks. Avila throws caution to the wind, absorbing a strike to get in, and she connects cleanly on her opponent. Cavalcanti shrugs it off to put a one-two on the chin and slide back from the anticipated looping counter. Avila is telegraphing her approach, giving Cavalcanti the right read to avoid the worst of the damage. Cavalcanti draws out a counter, prods out a pair of stabbing kicks to the midsection and catches a kick that flies back at her. Cavalcanti sets it down after landing once, and her one-two again is right on point. Cavalcanti snaps the head to the side with a right hand down Broadway, and Avila’s lunging blows are hitting air. Cavalcanti uses a perfect front kick to intercept the advancing Avila, stunning her and clipping her with a pair of fists. Cavalcanti wraps two punches around the guard and sneaks a kick up, with Avila practically standing straight in front of her foe taking shots. Avila sinks in on a hearty low kick, and she belts the belly with a resounding thud. As Cavalcanti turns away, Avila falls over and grabs Cavalcanti’s ankle. Cavalcanti tries to escape, but Avila torques her down to the mat and blood starts streaming down her face from a sharp right hand from the Portuguese woman. Cavalcanti controls the guard, tying Avila up from all but the least effective ground strikes, with Avila largely settling for bleeding on her foe. Avila wraps up a guillotine choke when Cavalcanti stands, but she is too slippery to get it so the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
Blood flow on Avila’s cut is largely stemmed for now, but a few good strikes in the third round will undoubtedly open it up again. Avila keeps her guard up high while rattling off solid leg kicks, and she rushes forward and gets her leg caught. The pressure of Avila surprises her opponent, as she wings punches and forces awkward exchanges befitting of her “Raging Panda” nickname. Cavalcanti slows her foe down with jabs, busting Avila’s nose up and practically ignoring anything thrown at her. Avila slings for the bleachers, but Cavalcanti is the more accurate and active of the two. Avila hurls all power, and those strikes glide past her adversary. Cavalcanti lets Avila crowd her so she can pop her with short, effective punches, and picks her opportunities to get away safely in time. Cavalcanti connects with a one-two from afar, letting Avila flail back as Avila is still swinging hard but her accuracy is falling fast. Cavalcanti lets her overswing so she can ding here, staying calm under fire and further transforming Avila’s face into a crimson mask. The two crash together at the same time, and it is Cavalcanti who bounces forward first. Avila jabs and scores a right hand to tie the heavy favorite up and jam her to the wall, but this clinch exchange will not likely get her the edge she was seeking. With seconds to go, Avila lets go with everything she has, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Julia Avila via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo is confident in Jacqueline Cavalcanti, noting she is younger, stronger, and faster. He believes Julia Avila's best days are behind her and that toughness alone is not enough. He wishes Cavalcanti wrestled more to exploit Avila's defensive gaps, but still picks her confidently.
Big Brady picks Cavalcanti, noting that while she is overrated and has gone to split decisions, Avila has no path to victory. Avila cannot take Cavalcanti down (90% takedown defense) and is outmatched on the feet. He expects a unanimous decision win for Cavalcanti.
Cavalcanti is the better striker with technical advantages that will allow her to keep the fight standing and batter Avila from distance. However, the host notes that Cavalcanti is too big a favorite and wouldn't mind a small bet on Avila for the upset. Official pick is Cavalcanti by decision.
The MMA Guru picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti over Julia Avila, citing Avila's recent loss to Miesha Tate and her age (36). He notes Cavalcanti's wins over tough opponents like Josiane Nunes and Nora Cornolle, and sees her as younger, rangier, and with more room to improve.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miesha Tate | 0 | 32 of 37 | 86% | 127 of 152 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 1 | 0 | 10:55 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miesha Tate | 0 | 16 of 18 | 88% | 50 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:54 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Miesha Tate | 0 | 16 of 18 | 88% | 69 of 82 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:50 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 10 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Miesha Tate | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 8 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:11 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miesha Tate | 32 of 37 | 86% | 31 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 29 |
| Julia Avila | 3 of 11 | 27% | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miesha Tate | 16 of 18 | 88% | 16 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 14 |
| Julia Avila | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Miesha Tate | 16 of 18 | 88% | 15 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 15 |
| Julia Avila | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Miesha Tate | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Julia Avila | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Cody takes Tate as an underdog. He argues that Tate has fought much higher competition and even in losses she's competitive. He notes Avila's wins are over low-level opponents and she has poor takedown defense. He thinks Tate's experience and wrestling will be the difference, and that Avila's layoff and knee injury are concerns. He believes Tate's back class carries her.
Lucrative James leans towards Miesha Tate, citing intangibles such as Julia Avila's layoff after having a baby (possibly via C-section) and her previous gym issues. He believes Tate's grappling can neutralize Avila's striking, and that Avila's path to victory is on the feet. He suggests attacking props like Tate by decision rather than the moneyline.
Tate is a former champion with a strong wrestling base, and she should be able to take Avila down and grind out a win. Avila is aggressive but lacks technical striking and has shown takedown defense issues. Both fighters are returning from long layoffs, but Tate's wrestling advantage and underdog odds make her a good value pick. The fight is expected to get easier for Tate in rounds two and three.
Paul sides with Avila, citing her strength and striking. He thinks Tate's motivation is questionable and that this could be a retirement fight. He notes Avila is the better striker and stronger, but acknowledges Tate's higher level of competition. He has a creeping suspicion that both fighters might retire after this.
The MMA Guru picks Miesha Tate as an underdog, noting her competitive fights against top competition like Ketlen Vieira and Lauren Murphy. He believes Julia Avila's inactivity and unimpressive last performance make Tate a live dog. He expects Tate to win by decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 0 | 48 of 91 | 52% | 107 of 163 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 | 2 | 3:31 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 0 | 40 of 94 | 42% | 60 of 115 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 3:32 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 0 | 29 of 58 | 50% | 29 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 0 | 27 of 65 | 41% | 27 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 0 | 17 of 30 | 56% | 42 of 59 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:28 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 0 | 10 of 24 | 41% | 21 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:34 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 36 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 3:03 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 12 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:58 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 48 of 91 | 52% | 31 of 72 | 11 of 13 | 6 of 6 | 42 of 84 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 40 of 94 | 42% | 27 of 73 | 5 of 9 | 8 of 12 | 37 of 88 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 29 of 58 | 50% | 21 of 49 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 28 of 56 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 27 of 65 | 41% | 18 of 49 | 3 of 7 | 6 of 9 | 27 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 17 of 30 | 56% | 8 of 20 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 12 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 10 of 24 | 41% | 6 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 20 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Julia Avila, reasoning that Stoliarenko will accept being on her back, throw up submissions but not get any, and end up losing a decision. He notes Avila is a heavy-handed brawler who is aggressive on top. He advises staying away from Avila in betting due to high price but likes the over on strikes.
Big Brady picks Julia Avila to win by KO, citing her massive striking advantage and strength. He warns against going to the ground with Stoliarenko, who has eight armbar wins, but believes Avila can keep it standing and finish. He notes Stoliarenko's poor wrestling and that she has been finished by strikes in half her losses. He would not bet Avila at -400 but expects her to win.
Cody picks Avila, noting her athletic background and well-rounded skills. He criticizes Stoliarenko's level of competition and one-dimensional armbar game. He thinks Avila's striking and top game will be too much, and Stoliarenko's only path is pulling guard, which plays into Avila's strength. He is confident but acknowledges the price is high.
Jacob picks Julija Stoliarenko, citing her judo throw into armbar that she has done many times. He mentions that Joe Todora says Avila is his girl so he will stay away from her. Jacob is confident Stoliarenko finds a way to get the submission.
Avila should keep the fight on the feet and overpower Stoliarenko. Stoliarenko is dangerous off her back with armbars, so Avila must be careful. Avila will look for a knockout via ground and pound after dropping her. The under 2.5 rounds is intriguing as both are live for finishes. However, Avila at -345 is not a betting recommendation.
Paul picks Avila, noting Stoliarenko's poor UFC debut and limited skills. He thinks Avila's wrestling and striking are superior. He is not excited about the -360 price but sees Avila as a safe play. He mentions that Stoliarenko passed out on the scale in their previous booking, which is a red flag.
The MMA Guru picks Julia Avila, noting her better record, competition, and technique. He highlights her hands and combination punching, referencing her first-round finish of Gina Mazany. He also points out Stoliarenko's severe weight cut issues (fainting on the scales twice) as a major red flag, making Avila the safer bet.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sijara Eubanks | 0 | 34 of 87 | 39% | 66 of 128 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 53 of 107 | 49% | 107 of 171 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 3 | 1 | 10:12 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sijara Eubanks | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 19 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 13 of 34 | 38% | 15 of 36 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 2:00 | |
| 2 | Sijara Eubanks | 0 | 13 of 33 | 39% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 44 of 67 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 4:02 | |
| 3 | Sijara Eubanks | 0 | 8 of 25 | 32% | 16 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Julia Avila | 0 | 23 of 39 | 58% | 48 of 68 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 4:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sijara Eubanks | 34 of 87 | 39% | 26 of 76 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 32 of 83 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Julia Avila | 53 of 107 | 49% | 46 of 98 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 25 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 28 of 41 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sijara Eubanks | 13 of 29 | 44% | 10 of 24 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Julia Avila | 13 of 34 | 38% | 11 of 30 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 11 | |
| 2 | Sijara Eubanks | 13 of 33 | 39% | 10 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Julia Avila | 17 of 34 | 50% | 15 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 | |
| 3 | Sijara Eubanks | 8 of 25 | 32% | 6 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Julia Avila | 23 of 39 | 58% | 20 of 36 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 14 of 16 |
Big Brady picks Julia Avila, but expects the fight to be closer than the odds suggest. He notes Eubanks has crisp boxing and hits hard, but her cardio is a concern. Avila has decent upside and ground game, but he is worried about Eubanks' takedowns. He predicts Avila by decision, but cannot bet it himself.
The host expects Avila's pressure and 'raging panda' style to overwhelm Eubanks, who tends to fade later in fights. He notes Avila has good cardio, striking, and grappling, and predicts a second-round TKO. He also mentions the 'fight doesn't go to decision' prop at +130 as a potential play.
The MMA Guru picks Julia Avila based on her convincing win over Gina Mazany and her victory over Pannie Kianzad, who beat Bethe Correia, who in turn beat Sijara Eubanks. He notes that Eubanks had a close decision with Aspen Ladd but believes Avila will out-strike her for three rounds and keep the fight standing, winning by unanimous decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 11 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Gina Mazany | 0 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 11 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Gina Mazany | 0 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 11 of 20 | 55% | 10 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Gina Mazany | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 11 of 20 | 55% | 10 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Gina Mazany | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
The MMA Guru picks Julia Avila, stating that Gina Mazany is not very good at fighting and is taking the fight on short notice. He notes that Avila is the bigger girl at the weight class. He confidently predicts Avila will get the job done.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 1 | 49 of 122 | 40% | 66 of 142 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 5:46 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 33 of 83 | 39% | 39 of 95 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 0 | 20 of 38 | 52% | 32 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:22 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 17 of 33 | 51% | 18 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:47 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 0 | 18 of 51 | 35% | 19 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 14 of 38 | 36% | 17 of 44 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:49 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 1 | 11 of 33 | 33% | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:44 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 49 of 122 | 40% | 30 of 96 | 11 of 16 | 8 of 10 | 28 of 93 | 17 of 23 | 4 of 6 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 33 of 83 | 39% | 26 of 73 | 3 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 25 of 69 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 20 of 38 | 52% | 12 of 29 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 25 | 12 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 17 of 33 | 51% | 15 of 29 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 22 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 18 of 51 | 35% | 11 of 39 | 4 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 14 of 43 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 14 of 38 | 36% | 10 of 33 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 11 of 33 | 33% | 7 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 6 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 2 of 12 | 16% | 1 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Jacqueline Cavalcanti - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 30 of 92 | 32% | 66 of 158 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 53 of 110 | 48% | 72 of 130 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 11 of 47 | 23% | 11 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 24 of 46 | 52% | 24 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 38 of 72 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 20 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 17 of 39 | 43% | 17 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 28 of 61 | 45% | 28 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketlen Vieira | 30 of 92 | 32% | 27 of 86 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 29 of 90 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 53 of 110 | 48% | 15 of 62 | 16 of 25 | 22 of 23 | 53 of 110 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ketlen Vieira | 11 of 47 | 23% | 9 of 44 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 24 of 46 | 52% | 6 of 23 | 4 of 8 | 14 of 15 | 24 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ketlen Vieira | 2 of 6 | 33% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ketlen Vieira | 17 of 39 | 43% | 17 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 28 of 61 | 45% | 9 of 38 | 12 of 16 | 7 of 7 | 28 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti, trusting her speed and footwork. He expects Cavalcanti to win the striking exchanges and that Vieira's takedowns won't matter to the judges. He also likes the over 2.5 rounds as a lock. He notes Vieira may have won her last fight but expects a similar decision loss here.
Big Brady leans toward Jacqueline Cavalcanti, believing she is the better striker with superior volume. He thinks she can stuff takedowns and keep the fight standing, winning by decision. He acknowledges Ketlen Vieira's path to victory via takedowns but doubts she will execute.
Cody picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti, citing her high striking volume (6.5 significant strikes per minute) and youth. He notes that Ketlen Vieira often gets out-struck but wins via cage control, but believes Cavalcanti's takedown defense has improved and she is physically strong enough to avoid being smothered. He expects Cavalcanti to out-land Vieira and win a 29-28 decision, though he acknowledges the risk of judges favoring control time.
Connor picks Cavalcanti, agreeing with Zane. He notes Vieira has no progression in her game and only changes aggression level per opponent. Cavalcanti is defensively minded, moves her feet well, and has a jab, making it hard for Vieira to charge in. He hopes Vieira doesn't drag Cavalcanti into the mud.
Cavalcanti is better everywhere: more technical striker, higher pace, better fight IQ, difficult to take down, great cardio. Vieira has low volume and bad fight IQ. Cavalcanti will outpoint Vieira and win a comfortable decision.
Lucrative James leans toward Jacqueline Cavalcanti, citing her superior striking and consistent volume. He believes Vieira's takedowns may not be enough to win two rounds, and Cavalcanti's composed striking will earn a decision. He notes the fight could be close and split.
The host thinks Cavalcanti is a slicker striker with a better gas tank, but he is hesitant to bet her at -155 due to Vieira's grappling threat and live dog status. He predicts Cavalcanti wins by decision, but would only bet if the line drops closer to -120.
The host picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti over Ketlen Vieira, believing this fight will launch Cavalcanti into title contention. He cites Cavalcanti's improved grappling defense and striking edge to pick apart Vieira and win on the scorecards.
Paul picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti by split decision, noting that both fighters are likely to go to decision and that Vieira has been involved in many split decisions. He believes Cavalcanti's volume and more impactful strikes will earn her the nod, but expects it to be contentious. He bet the fight ends in a split decision at plus 400.
Zane picks Cavalcanti because she is a sharp technical striker with good footwork and a jab, while Vieira is stuck in the mud with no progression in her game. He expects Cavalcanti to pick Vieira apart at range, as Vieira's only path is to overpower her in the clinch, but she often spends time at range not knowing what to do.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 39 of 97 | 40% | 46 of 107 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:12 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 80 of 164 | 48% | 87 of 172 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 11 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:57 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 21 of 40 | 52% | 21 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 16 of 31 | 51% | 21 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 23 of 57 | 40% | 28 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:54 | |
| 3 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 14 of 42 | 33% | 14 of 42 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 36 of 67 | 53% | 38 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 39 of 97 | 40% | 15 of 62 | 8 of 14 | 16 of 21 | 36 of 93 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 80 of 164 | 48% | 45 of 118 | 20 of 26 | 15 of 20 | 73 of 156 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 9 of 24 | 37% | 1 of 11 | 2 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 21 of 40 | 52% | 6 of 21 | 5 of 7 | 10 of 12 | 20 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 16 of 31 | 51% | 3 of 16 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 10 | 15 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 23 of 57 | 40% | 15 of 45 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 2 | 20 of 54 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 14 of 42 | 33% | 11 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | 13 of 40 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 36 of 67 | 53% | 24 of 52 | 7 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 33 of 64 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-250); Bueno Silva (+210)
Round 1
The promotion as of late has fallen in love with smashing two fighters together of drastically different trajectories hoping the one on the rise pulls it off. In this case, it is the women’s bantamweight division in dire need of contenders. It would be unfair to claim that the promotion
wants
one fighter to win, but the younger woman in Cavalcanti (9-1, 4-0 UFC) with a spotless UFC record intact is a far easier sell. In her fifth walk to the UFC cage, she collides with former flyweight title challenger Silva (10-5-1, 1 NC; 5-5-1, 1 NC UFC), who has tumbled down the rankings and may be fighting to keep her place on the roster. Referee Chris Tognoni draws the charge for this uneven momentum bout, one that should see some movement at 135 pounds no matter who prevails.
The ladies bump their fists together. Cavalcanti bounces back and forth to establish herself in the cage, pushing out a jab and trading low kicks. Cavalcanti connects with a kick to the thigh, and Silva’s response goes wide. Cavalcanti chips at the front leg, and she checks one coming back and doubles up on counters. She goes to the midsection, and Silva responds in kind. Silva ignores a one-two to sit down on a calf kick, and she stays out of range of Cavalcanti’s subsequent punches. The two are jittery and still not willing to commit to much, with Silva barely even in first gear. When she does throw something, it is in response and generally mirroring what already struck her. She chains a low kick into a wheel kick, and Cavalcanti leans back to dodge the latter and drills Silva with a right hand down the middle.
Silva stabs her toes out with a kick to the body, and Cavalcanti has not stopped with her low kick attack yet. She mixes in front kicks with calf kicks, and she swarms her way in. Silva ties her up, and Cavalcanti knees her in the gut and pushes off the face. Silva shoots down suddenly in pursuit of a double-leg entry, and Cavalcanti puts her back to the wall to defend it. Tognoni asks for them to do more, so Silva tries to lift her foe but cannot elevate her very high. Silva breaks off willingly, and she flicks out a few jabs. Cavalcanti looks to loop punches behind the jab, and she changes stances to keep Silva guessing at which side the kicks will be from. One final push kick from “Sheetara” concludes the tepid sparring match of a round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 2
The bantamweights touch gloves to get going again, and Cavalcanti gets right in her rhythm of low kicks, jabs and forward movement. Silva tries to fire back, and Cavalcanti pushes off before getting caught with anything. Silva turns her hips into a harder-than-usual low kick, so Cavalcanti walks her down and strings five punches together to the body and head. Cavalcanti lifts a leg to check a kick and knees Silva in the belly to push her to the wire. They trade knees on the inside, with Cavalcanti spinning her foe around and landing more knees. Cavalcanti abandons the tie-up, and she puts three punches on the face.
Cavalcanti lifts her leg up to take some of the sting out of a kick, and both women let their lands go in a sudden exchange. Silva starts committing to more heavy leg kicks, and Cavalcanti’s volume remains steady with moves that touch rather than sting. Silva boots Cavalcanti upside the head, and it is narrowly blocked in time. Commentator Dominick Cruz chastises the women for not putting their full effort into this fight, and they apparently can hear him as they again whir into action and start drilling one another with strikes. Cavalcanti kicks, and Silva kicks her back in the ribs. Cavalcanti splits the guard with a jab and shakes her hand out, and she plants a one-two on the jaw as she drives the Brazilian back. Cavalcanti stomp kicks the lead knee of her adversary, and her jab has marked up the bridge of Silva’s nose. As Silva tries to circle to the side and avoid all contact to end the round, Cavalcanti walks her down and boots her in the guts as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
Of the two women in the cage, it is Cavalcanti who is fired up and ready to push the pace in the final frame. She does just that right out of the cage, walking behind a right hand that she bangs into Silva’s temple. As she chains punches together, Cavalcanti’s punches draw a failed takedown shot out of her opponent that pushes her to the wire but little else. Cavalcanti’s offense has drawn some swelling around Silva’s left eye and right temple, and she is quickly blowing up all over like golf balls slid under her skin. Cavalcanti pecks at the front leg with sticking her hands out, and she even tries a trip and throw but Silva bounces off. Cavalcanti’s one-two barely reaches as Silva’s right hand does not land cleanly, and Cavalcanti is walking forward without fear of reprisal.
Cavalcanti jabs the body with the ball of her foot, and she reams Silva with a one-two. Silva tries to grab hold of the woman from Portugal and get some dirty boxing going, but when that does not amount to much, it is a power jab that has the best effect of her strikes thus far. Cavalcanti recovers and snaps out her own jab in Silva’s face, using it to open up a few clubbing right hands. The once-beaten woman lets Silva buzz past her with a spinning strike, and she resets and works the body. Silva loads up on a right hand, and her subsequent low kick is checked. They flash jabs simultaneously, but Silva will likely need more if she wants to get her hand raised in the next 55 seconds. Cavalcanti stays in front of her foe, and she measures a right hand on the swollen eye socket. She follows it with a few more, and Silva walks forward as if she wants to brawl. When Cavalcanti lands on her, she changes her mind. Cavalcanti’s stance switches alone take most of Silva’s offense out of the equation, and she marches the former title challenger down and busts her in the chops with a left hand. The fight concludes, and the two ladies embrace as a camera quickly shows that Silva’s right foot has also ballooned as a result of this match.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Mayra Bueno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Joselyne Edwards because she is the much better striker and can piece up Mayra Bueno Silva on the feet. He notes that Mayra is on a three-fight skid and may be desperate for takedowns, but Joselyne's takedown defense should hold up if she avoids naked kicks. He prefers Joselyne to box rather than kick to avoid getting taken down.
Big Brady is not high on Cavalcanti, noting her underwhelming wins and split decisions against lower-level opponents. He acknowledges Bueno Silva's dangerous guard but criticizes her refusal to wrestle offensively. He thinks Cavalcanti will pick apart Bueno Silva at range for 15 minutes, winning a decision, but notes Bueno Silva has a path if she takes the fight to the ground.
Cody picks Silva as a dog, citing her superior grappling and competition level. He thinks Cavalcanti's wins are over low-level opponents and that Silva can take her down and submit her.
Lucrative James confidently picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti. He notes her cleaner striking, volume, and defensive skills, while Mayra Bueno Silva is on a downslide and has bounced between weight classes. He acknowledges Silva's submission threat but believes Cavalcanti can avoid it and win a decision. He also mentions Silva's recent black belt but doubts it will change the outcome.
The host believes Cavalcanti's striking edge will allow her to pick Silva apart from distance, though Silva's aggression could make it close. Ultimately, Cavalcanti should land better shots and win on the scorecards.
Paul is torn, leaning pass. He notes Silva's inconsistency and Cavalcanti's lack of impressive wins, but can't back Cavalcanti at minus 260.
The Guru picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti over Mayra Bueno Silva. He cites Silva's recent losses and inability to bully opponents, while Cavalcanti has shown good striking and range management. He expects a competitive decision, with Cavalcanti outlanding Silva to a 29-28 win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 0 | 54 of 138 | 39% | 57 of 145 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:39 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 73 of 199 | 36% | 75 of 201 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 0 | 24 of 49 | 48% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 32 of 81 | 39% | 32 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 0 | 12 of 35 | 34% | 15 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 17 of 54 | 31% | 17 of 54 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 0 | 18 of 54 | 33% | 18 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 24 of 64 | 37% | 26 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Avila | 54 of 138 | 39% | 17 of 86 | 9 of 18 | 28 of 34 | 51 of 134 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 73 of 199 | 36% | 54 of 176 | 11 of 13 | 8 of 10 | 73 of 198 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Avila | 24 of 49 | 48% | 5 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 16 of 17 | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 32 of 81 | 39% | 21 of 69 | 5 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 32 of 81 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Julia Avila | 12 of 35 | 34% | 4 of 20 | 2 of 6 | 6 of 9 | 12 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 17 of 54 | 31% | 12 of 48 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 17 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Julia Avila | 18 of 54 | 33% | 8 of 38 | 4 of 8 | 6 of 8 | 15 of 51 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 24 of 64 | 37% | 21 of 59 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 24 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-440), Avila (+340)
Round 1
There still ain’t no gettin’ offa’ this train we’re on until the middle of April, so strap in and enjoy the ride. We surge through February with a UFC Apex offering, the first of three in the next five weeks for better or worse. Suitably, the event only features a couple ranked competitors and a few names could be on the chopping block should they come up short. Potentially with her back against the wall is bantamweight Avila (9-3, 3-2 UFC), who took 2024 off instead of completely retiring, having lost two of her last three. The same cannot be said for Portugal’s Cavalcanti (8-1, 3-0 UFC) who will be nine years the younger. The ladies touch ‘em up over the oversight of referee Chris Tognoni, and the fights begin. As a note, the old gloves are officially in effect for every UFC card going forward. Cavalcanti in the center of the cage paws out with jabs that clatter off the guard, and Avila gives her back a surprisingly heavy leg kick to think about. Avila kicks on the other side of the leg, and she backs off as Cavalcanti swarms her. Avila circles away to check a kick and let one go, and the two try to find their range from distance. Both lunge with long strikes, and Avila mixes in low kicks. Avila parries a front kick and chews up the Portuguese woman’s front calf, making her shake it out. Cavalcanti jabs a foot to the belly and strings a few punches together, and this activates Avila into start trading. Cavalcanti reaches out with a long left hook to intercept Avila a few times, and she gets a body shot in to further frustrate the geologist. Avila checks a kick and loops a right hand over the top to keep Cavalcanti honest. The woman from Portugal strings together a one-two down the pipe, and she chains a few punches behind it but gets smacked with an overhand right. Cavalcanti leans back to dodge the worst of the swinging strike and connects on Avila, putting in body work to open up the head. Cavalcanti brushes a pair of hooks off the temple, and she wraps a kick around the side. Avila kicks her back at the end of the round.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 2
Cavalcanti is the aggressor to start off the second round, having found her preferred range with jabs and kicks. Avila throws caution to the wind, absorbing a strike to get in, and she connects cleanly on her opponent. Cavalcanti shrugs it off to put a one-two on the chin and slide back from the anticipated looping counter. Avila is telegraphing her approach, giving Cavalcanti the right read to avoid the worst of the damage. Cavalcanti draws out a counter, prods out a pair of stabbing kicks to the midsection and catches a kick that flies back at her. Cavalcanti sets it down after landing once, and her one-two again is right on point. Cavalcanti snaps the head to the side with a right hand down Broadway, and Avila’s lunging blows are hitting air. Cavalcanti uses a perfect front kick to intercept the advancing Avila, stunning her and clipping her with a pair of fists. Cavalcanti wraps two punches around the guard and sneaks a kick up, with Avila practically standing straight in front of her foe taking shots. Avila sinks in on a hearty low kick, and she belts the belly with a resounding thud. As Cavalcanti turns away, Avila falls over and grabs Cavalcanti’s ankle. Cavalcanti tries to escape, but Avila torques her down to the mat and blood starts streaming down her face from a sharp right hand from the Portuguese woman. Cavalcanti controls the guard, tying Avila up from all but the least effective ground strikes, with Avila largely settling for bleeding on her foe. Avila wraps up a guillotine choke when Cavalcanti stands, but she is too slippery to get it so the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
Blood flow on Avila’s cut is largely stemmed for now, but a few good strikes in the third round will undoubtedly open it up again. Avila keeps her guard up high while rattling off solid leg kicks, and she rushes forward and gets her leg caught. The pressure of Avila surprises her opponent, as she wings punches and forces awkward exchanges befitting of her “Raging Panda” nickname. Cavalcanti slows her foe down with jabs, busting Avila’s nose up and practically ignoring anything thrown at her. Avila slings for the bleachers, but Cavalcanti is the more accurate and active of the two. Avila hurls all power, and those strikes glide past her adversary. Cavalcanti lets Avila crowd her so she can pop her with short, effective punches, and picks her opportunities to get away safely in time. Cavalcanti connects with a one-two from afar, letting Avila flail back as Avila is still swinging hard but her accuracy is falling fast. Cavalcanti lets her overswing so she can ding here, staying calm under fire and further transforming Avila’s face into a crimson mask. The two crash together at the same time, and it is Cavalcanti who bounces forward first. Avila jabs and scores a right hand to tie the heavy favorite up and jam her to the wall, but this clinch exchange will not likely get her the edge she was seeking. With seconds to go, Avila lets go with everything she has, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Julia Avila via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo is confident in Jacqueline Cavalcanti, noting she is younger, stronger, and faster. He believes Julia Avila's best days are behind her and that toughness alone is not enough. He wishes Cavalcanti wrestled more to exploit Avila's defensive gaps, but still picks her confidently.
Big Brady picks Cavalcanti, noting that while she is overrated and has gone to split decisions, Avila has no path to victory. Avila cannot take Cavalcanti down (90% takedown defense) and is outmatched on the feet. He expects a unanimous decision win for Cavalcanti.
Cavalcanti is the better striker with technical advantages that will allow her to keep the fight standing and batter Avila from distance. However, the host notes that Cavalcanti is too big a favorite and wouldn't mind a small bet on Avila for the upset. Official pick is Cavalcanti by decision.
The MMA Guru picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti over Julia Avila, citing Avila's recent loss to Miesha Tate and her age (36). He notes Cavalcanti's wins over tough opponents like Josiane Nunes and Nora Cornolle, and sees her as younger, rangier, and with more room to improve.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 54 of 114 | 47% | 80 of 156 | 1 of 9 | 11% | 0 | 0 | 3:56 |
| Nora Cornolle | 0 | 54 of 154 | 35% | 87 of 194 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 16 of 27 | 59% | 29 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:41 |
| Nora Cornolle | 0 | 11 of 43 | 25% | 25 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:34 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 17 of 32 | 53% | 29 of 50 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:51 |
| Nora Cornolle | 0 | 13 of 41 | 31% | 24 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:27 | |
| 3 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 21 of 55 | 38% | 22 of 58 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Nora Cornolle | 0 | 30 of 70 | 42% | 38 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 54 of 114 | 47% | 15 of 65 | 17 of 23 | 22 of 26 | 41 of 95 | 13 of 19 | 0 of 0 |
| Nora Cornolle | 54 of 154 | 35% | 28 of 117 | 12 of 15 | 14 of 22 | 48 of 146 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 16 of 27 | 59% | 7 of 17 | 2 of 3 | 7 of 7 | 13 of 22 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Nora Cornolle | 11 of 43 | 25% | 1 of 28 | 4 of 4 | 6 of 11 | 11 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 17 of 32 | 53% | 2 of 14 | 10 of 11 | 5 of 7 | 10 of 24 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Nora Cornolle | 13 of 41 | 31% | 8 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 37 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 21 of 55 | 38% | 6 of 34 | 5 of 9 | 10 of 12 | 18 of 49 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Nora Cornolle | 30 of 70 | 42% | 19 of 55 | 6 of 8 | 5 of 7 | 27 of 67 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
It’s no time like the present to move to the next fight, which comes at the 135-pound weight class in a wide-open division. A pair of ladies with two wins in the promotion will aim for win no. 3, with Cavalcanti (7-1, 2-0 UFC) returning from a quick turnaround against home country Cornolle (8-1, 2-0 UFC). While the woman from Portugal is currently riding a five-fight win streak, the local Cornolle has not tasted defeat since her pro debut—which came against Cavalcanti—and is flying high. Referee Christophe Chapuis takes charge of the cage, and he starts the rematch as the two women touch gloves. Cornolle stays on the outside while Cavalcanti is in the middle, and she pecks at her foe with a few low kicks. Cavalcanti responds in kind, and they dart in at one another with single jabs. Cavalcanti looks for a right hand over the top when a leg kick is aimed at her, and she continues to work the Frenchwoman’s lead leg over with her shin. Another leg kick from Cornolle is answered with an overhand right, but it is a bit too slow to get to her. Cornolle ducks and reaches her way in, only to find herself out of range. Cavalcanti jams a hard low kick on the front wheel, and she checks a kick that comes back her way. Cornolle reaches her foe with a winging right hand, using this strike to close the distance and wrap her arms around Cavalcanti’s waist. Cavalcanti leans her head against the cage as Cornolle hangs on from behind her, with the woman from France pursuing a level change. When Cavalcanti stands her up, Cornolle dings her with a pair of sneaky elbows and two knees. The third knee from Cornolle allows her to lift her opponent and chuck her to the floor, where she is stuck in an odd position until she steps all the way over to full mount. Cavalcanti rolls her over and finds herself in armbar danger, so she stands back up and stars slapping Cornolle’s legs with kicks. Cornolle responds with axe kicks, so Cavalcanti does the same. When “Wonder” works her way back up, Cavalcanti walks her down and beans her with a pair of punches. Cornolle tosses out a naked leg kick, and two more fists fly at her mug. Cavalcanti chains several punches together as a head kick brushes past her shoulder, and Cornolle tries a second high kick from up close. Cavalcanti pays it no mind, walking through a high knee to put her hands on her opponent until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cornolle
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 2
Cavalcanti deploys her same game plan to start the second round, claiming the center of the cage while slowly advancing. Cavalcanti picks at her adversary with kicks, avoiding a wheel kick and landing a right hand over the top. Cornolle connects with a left hand, and she has a head kick come up short of the mark. Cavalcanti keeps crowding her, and they trade low kicks. A high kick from Cornolle gets closer than before, whipping it up in close proximity. She appears to celebrate her work a little too long, as Cavalcanti rings her bell with a right hand down the middle. The power punches from the woman born in Brazil but now a Portuguese local do serious damage, and Cornolle wobbles and bounces off the fence. Cavalcanti stays composed as she traps Cornolle against the wire, ringing her bell with another big right, and Cornolle bends over and has to shake it off. To save her composure, the Frenchwoman changes levels and succeeds in tripping Cavalcanti’s legs out. Cavalcanti climbs back up, and she grabs the fence to keep herself from getting mat returned as Chapuis slaps her hand. Cornolle stays tightly pressed to her opponent, chipping away with knees and dirty boxing until Cavalcanti spins her about. Cornolle uses a knee to get a bit of space, and she fires off a head kick from up close to break away. Cavalcanti shrugs it off and keeps the pressure fully on “Wonder,” and she stuffs a takedown but cannot stop Cornolle from grabbing her. Cornolle opens up with a number of knees from up close as she clinches, continuing this until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
The bantamweights are lathered up for five more minutes of combat, and Cavalcanti leads off the round where she prefers, in the center slowly spreading her way towards the cage to back her opponent up. Cavalcanti uses her jabs to keep a safe range, but Cornolle steps in to break that up momentarily with a hard right elbow. Cavalcanti no-sells it and hammers Cornolle’s front leg with a kick, and she leans back to dodge a head kick. Cavalcanti checks a kick as Cornolle staggers back, and she avoids a high kick and a spinning back fist while sneaking in an overhand right. Cornolle shoots in but cannot get to the hips, settling for a clinch and a knee to the breadbasket. Cavalcanti frames off with an elbow to split up, and she shakes her arms out. Cavalcanti tries to pin a one-two on the chin, and a follow-up right reaches its intended target. Cornolle responds with a head kick that slaps off the guard, and she gets marked up with a right hand that shakes up her balance. Cavalcanti’s right finds its home once more, not letting the head kick counter get to her, and she pushes off another clinch setup. Cavalcanti stalks the Frenchwoman down, ignoring a high kick to stretch out with three punches. The crowd attempts to inspire their fighter with two minutes left, and she channels their energy to explode into a slugfest. Cavalcanti stands her ground and knocks her back, and Cornolle shrugs at her as if to say that Cavalcanti’s blows do not hurt her. When Cavalcanti connects hard, Cornolle turns around and shouts something at her own team, which allows Cavalcanti to hit her again. Cornolle gathers herself, and Cavalcanti reaches a right hand that misses the mark when “Wonder” attacks the hips. Cornolle hangs on and mashes her elbow on Cavalcanti’s face, and Cavalcanti bursts out of the tie-up and boots Cornolle in the belly. Cornolle again waves her own, and Cavalcanti obliges, lobbing punches, elbows and kicks at her until the final bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (29-28 Cavalcanti)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Nora Cornolle via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Nora Cornolle despite acknowledging Jacob's strong disagreement. He argues that Nora's forward pressure and busy striking will be effective against Jacqueline, who tends to back up. He believes Jacqueline's split decision win over Josiane Nunes was questionable and that Nora's aggression will earn her rounds. However, he is not confident enough to bet on Nora straight up, but considers betting the +3.5 spread if available.
Big Brady picks the underdog Nora Cornolle, noting she has shown rapid improvement and looked impressive in her last fight against Melissa Mullins. He thinks the fight will be close and go to decision, with Cornolle having home-field advantage in Paris. He is not high on either fighter but sees value in the dog.
Cody picks Cornolle as an underdog, citing the hometown advantage and the fact that both are strikers. He notes that Cavalcanti's recent win over Josiane Nunes was a close split decision, and Cornolle has shown high volume when not taken down. He expects a close fight that could go Cornolle's way via split decision.
Connor agrees, noting that Cavalcanti is technical enough and has a bright future. He was impressed by her performance against Nunes and thinks she will be able to out-strike Cornolle, who relies on clinch work. Connor expects Cavalcanti to win decisively.
Daniel Vreeland picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti to win, but is not confident at the price. He thinks Cavalcanti is the more polished striker and should win at distance, but notes Cornolle has power and can steal moments. He mentions Cornolle's improvements and the home crowd, but believes Cavalcanti's volume and technique will earn a decision.
JP picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti because she has a reach advantage and has fought Nora Cornolle before, winning by decision. He notes Cornolle is a wild striker with power but Cavalcanti's volume should win her the fight. He also mentions Cavalcanti is younger at 27 vs Cornolle's 34, and he is fading older fighters.
Paul switches to Cornolle after discussion, citing the CF model and the fact that Cavalcanti is on short notice and fought a month ago. He notes that Cornolle has good volume and that the fight being in France could lead to a favorable decision. He expects a close striking match that Cornolle might win.
The MMA Guru picks Nora Cornolle over Jacqueline Cavalcanti, citing Cavalcanti's short-notice turnaround as a red flag. He notes that Cavalcanti fought a month ago and usually fights twice a year, while Cornolle was preparing for a bigger fight. He believes Cornolle is more prepared and will win despite similar skill levels.
Zane thinks Cavalcanti will win the rematch because she is a more consistent striker and has improved since their first fight, where she dominated Cornolle. He notes that Cavalcanti is fundamental and handled pressure well against Josiane Nunes. Cornolle's only path is clinch work, but Cavalcanti should be able to out-strike her.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 91 of 171 | 53% | 91 of 171 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Josiane Nunes | 0 | 52 of 153 | 33% | 52 of 153 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 34 of 62 | 54% | 34 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Josiane Nunes | 0 | 20 of 52 | 38% | 20 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 31 of 60 | 51% | 31 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Josiane Nunes | 0 | 18 of 48 | 37% | 18 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 26 of 49 | 53% | 26 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Josiane Nunes | 0 | 14 of 53 | 26% | 14 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 91 of 171 | 53% | 49 of 119 | 11 of 19 | 31 of 33 | 91 of 171 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Josiane Nunes | 52 of 153 | 33% | 33 of 126 | 11 of 19 | 8 of 8 | 50 of 149 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 34 of 62 | 54% | 17 of 42 | 6 of 8 | 11 of 12 | 34 of 62 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Josiane Nunes | 20 of 52 | 38% | 8 of 37 | 6 of 9 | 6 of 6 | 20 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 31 of 60 | 51% | 15 of 41 | 4 of 7 | 12 of 12 | 31 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Josiane Nunes | 18 of 48 | 37% | 12 of 39 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 26 of 49 | 53% | 17 of 36 | 1 of 4 | 8 of 9 | 26 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Josiane Nunes | 14 of 53 | 26% | 13 of 50 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-192), Nunes (+160)
Round 1
Two Brazilian strikers with deceptively high knockout rates meet in the center of the cage in this next endeavor. Much taller and longer, Cavalcanti (6-1, 1-0 UFC), who now fights out of Portugal but was born on Sao Paulo, will maintain ample natural advantages against the diminutive brawler Nunes (10-2, 3-1 UFC). Even though she measures around 5-foot-2 and short arms to match, it is “Josi” who comes into this fight having knocked out foe in seven of 10 wins, much like a Mark Hunt-esque women’s bantamweight. The countrywomen tap their gloves together to start the fight, with referee Mark Smith watching on with bated breath. Cavalcanti paws out her jab repeatedly right out of the gate, and she sticks out a few low kicks until Nunes counters her over the top. Nunes swarms forward but is out of range, and Cavalcanti peppers her with distant strikes. They trade low kicks, and Nunes just misses with a reaching left hand. Cavalcanti boots her in the head with a kick, and she slides away from the swarming Nunes. Cavalcanti keeps her foe at arm’s reach, not allowing Nunes to get inside to bop her in the chops with any number of winging strike. Cavalcanti jabs and keeps lateral footwork to avoid danger, and she sticks out a one-two to get Nunes’ attention. As Nunes races forward, she does manage to connect with a few punches, and she bites down on her mouthpiece and knows she has to eat a few shots to get inside. She does just that, shrugging off a straight right hand so she can blast Cavalcanti in the side of the head. Nunes keeps slugging, and a particularly effective right hand draws some swelling on Cavalcanti’s temple. Cavalcanti slows things down with a few front kicks to stay at her preferred range, and she sticks a body kick under the guard while moving. Cavalcanti reaches with a jab and a right, and she hops away from a few looping shots that miss the mark. Cavalcanti scores a low kick and slides away when Nunes grabs her leg, and she intercepts Nunes with a stern right hand. Nunes keeps plowing forward, and she runs at Cavalcanti throwing hands until the horn sounds.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 2
Gloves get touched, and Cavalcanti pokes and prods from her safe distance early. A few twos from Cavalcanti have reddened up Nunes’ left eye, and she uses her jab to set that strike up time and again. Nunes chambers and partially fires her huge left hook to no avail, and she even jumps forward winging one but hits nothing but air. Cavalcanti drives home a one-two on the cheek as Nunes rushes after her, hand-fighting and keeping Nunes from hitting her. Nunes finds her range with a big left hand, bouncing Cavalcanti off the wall, and she connects with another after a serious wind-up. Nunes paws out a right hook that wobbles Cavalcanti, and she blocks a body kick instead of pouncing. Cavalcanti shakes it off and flicks a low kick and a right hand, and she gets back to a jab with a solid two behind it. Cavalcanti’s low kick is caught, and she just gets away when Nunes loads up on pure power. Cavalcanti watches Nunes run at her to crack her with a preemptive right hand, and Nunes tries to pay her back but is just taking damage. Cavalcanti picks her shots and uses her serious reach advantage to disallow Nunes from denting her forehead with huge power strikes. Cavalcanti nails her foe with a right hand, and she gets punched back and claims it was an eye poke. Smith calls time and allows Cavalcanti to recover, but it appears to be a fist that irritated her and not outstretched fingers. When they resume after about 25 seconds, Cavalcanti is on her bike with Nunes fired up, and her long punches open a cut on the cheek of her adversary. Nunes tries to cut Cavalcanti off but is following her around, allowing Cavalcanti to piece her up. Nunes gets off two left hands before Cavalcanti can skirt away, and Cavalcanti looks for a step-in knee when they get up close. Nunes scores with another hook, and a front kick from Cavalcanti makes her think twice about swinging recklessly before the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
There is one final fist bump to get going, and Nunes charges forward like before. Nunes has a big left hand soar past her opponent, with Cavalcanti deftly avoiding the worst of almost every blow. Nunes briefly draws her foe into a slugfest, and Cavalcanti takes a few and makes the decision to not give Nunes the only chance to put her down. Cavalcanti digs a body shot amidst several jabs, circling away from the power and letting a left brush past her. Nunes walks into several fists, and she grits it out to launch her left twice. Nunes gets into range, but Cavalcanti exits and dodges a haymaker on the way out. Nunes tries to feint and fake her way in, but Cavalcanti is not biting, rather jabbing her in the face. When Nunes bull-rushes her, Cavalcanti clips her with an uppercut, causing Nunes to crash into the wall. Nunes gathers a full head of steam and keeps her guard up, blocking a head kick that makes Cavalcanti topple to the mat. Nunes tries to pounce, but Cavalcanti pushes her off and climbs back to her feet. Cavalcanti gets on her bike, seemingly cruising with jabs and the occasional front kick while Nunes is walking straight into everything. Cavalcanti smacks her in the side of the head with a lead hook, swelling up Nunes’ right eye a bit. Nunes ignores any damage she has sustained and is loaded for bear, but Cavalcanti is faster and longer. Nunes throws caution to the wind, with a few lefts getting in before Cavalcanti evades the rest of the blitz. Cavalcanti jabs with a front kick to the knee, allowing her to take some of the sting out of Nunes’ lunging hook. Cavalcanti slaps the instep of her foot on the midsection of the shorter woman, and she bounces away from further danger. Nunes walks her down, tagging her with two left hands but not flustering Cavalcanti one bit. Cavalcanti picks out a few jabs and right hands, and Nunes no-sells every blow so she can try for one final power strike. That blow does not come because Cavalcanti kicks her in the belly, and the bantamweight bout draws to a close. It could go either way, depending on how judges value Nunes power strikes vs. her foe’s accuracy and activity.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (29-28 Cavalcanti)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
Angelo picks the underdog Josiane Nunes, describing her as a bowling ball who only moves forward and throws bombs. He thinks the odds are too wide in favor of Cavalcanti due to recency bias, and that Cavalcanti doesn't like pressure. He notes that Nunes lost her last fight because a giant held her against the cage, but doesn't see that happening here. He suggests a plus 3.5 bet on Nunes, similar to the Dan Hooker bet.
Cody picks Cavalcanti because of her reach, speed, and striking technique. He notes that Nunes is short and has to close distance, which plays into Cavalcanti's range game. He also uses MMA math: Cavalcanti dominated Zara Fairn, while Nunes had a competitive fight with Fairn. He thinks Cavalcanti will outpoint Nunes and win a decision.
Daniel Vreeland picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti, citing her significant size and reach advantage over the much shorter Nunes. He notes Cavalcanti's high volume and well-rounded skills, while Nunes is too small for the division and will be bullied.
Brevin picks Cavalcanti by decision, noting she is the bigger fighter and a better striker with range. He dismisses Nunes due to her loss to Chelsea Chandler, which he finds disqualifying. JP agrees, adding that Nunes is much smaller and Cavalcanti is a good striker who is very rangy. Both expect the fight to go the distance.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Nunes was outworked by Chelsea Chandler. He thinks Cavalcanti's volume will be the difference. He also mentions that women's favorites have been winning at a high rate this year, so he's comfortable backing the favorite here.
The MMA Guru picks Josiane Nunes because he believes she is stronger and has more grit than Jacqueline Cavalcanti. He criticizes Cavalcanti's wins over Zara Fairn and Melissa Gatto as unimpressive, implying Nunes has a better mentality and will dig deeper. He relies on a subjective assessment of who wants it more.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 39 of 259 | 15% | 39 of 259 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Zarah Fairn | 0 | 126 of 221 | 57% | 127 of 222 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 5 of 86 | 5% | 5 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zarah Fairn | 0 | 36 of 62 | 58% | 36 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 10 of 80 | 12% | 10 of 80 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zarah Fairn | 0 | 46 of 81 | 56% | 46 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 24 of 93 | 25% | 24 of 93 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Zarah Fairn | 0 | 44 of 78 | 56% | 45 of 79 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 39 of 259 | 15% | 25 of 241 | 8 of 12 | 6 of 6 | 39 of 258 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarah Fairn | 126 of 221 | 57% | 43 of 127 | 20 of 22 | 63 of 72 | 116 of 209 | 10 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 5 of 86 | 5% | 2 of 82 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 86 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarah Fairn | 36 of 62 | 58% | 4 of 26 | 8 of 8 | 24 of 28 | 36 of 62 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 10 of 80 | 12% | 6 of 74 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarah Fairn | 46 of 81 | 56% | 19 of 48 | 4 of 6 | 23 of 27 | 41 of 74 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 24 of 93 | 25% | 17 of 85 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 24 of 92 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarah Fairn | 44 of 78 | 56% | 20 of 53 | 8 of 8 | 16 of 17 | 39 of 73 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-375), Fairn dos Santos (+295)
Round 1
Come l’enfer ou hautes eaux, the promotion was going to put on more than 10 fights on this card, no matter what it had to do with the matchups already on the table. With eight of the 11 pairings on the billing containing at least one French fighter, the deck is stacked for local fight fans to get their money’s worth. We begin with a catchweight contest of 140 pounds, between two women who could not safely reach the bantamweight limit in time. After a bit of struggle, Paris-based Fairn (6-5, 0-3 UFC) managed to make the 140-pound cap, while her debuting Portuguese opponent Cavalcanti (5-1, 0-0 UFC) was all smiles on the scales. Someone here has to earn their first UFC victory, and referee Rich Mitchell will be there every step of the way. The first fight of the early afternoon card – for stateside audiences on the east coast – kicks off with a touch of gloves. Fairn takes to the center of the cage, where she paws out jabs and a right hand to follow one in order to find her range. The newcomer skirts along the outside, and she slaps a few leg kicks out while also swiping with a jab or two. The crowd booms in favor of Fairn, making sure to voice support for the French woman, and she continues moving forward aggressively. Cavalcanti chops at her from the outer edge of the cage, and she swats away the two-punch combos that aim her way. Neither woman engages with much of note, as they are tossing out pitter-patter strikes with very little on them. Fairn continues to plod forward, and Cavalcanti stays on her bike, poking out with low kicks here and there. Fairn follows her and swings, but she cannot find her target cleanly. Cavalcanti parries the punches and kicks the lead leg, and she mixes things up with a front kick. Fairn struggles to reach her foe with her fists, and Cavalcanti hand-fights to defend the majority of the punches that come her way. The Portuguese fighter turns her hips into a few heavier leg kicks, and the former kickboxer Fairn is doing nothing to check or counter them. Cavalcanti connects with a pair of punches, and Fairn pushes off to break up the combination and her fingers jam into both eye sockets of Cavalcanti at the same time. Mitchell calls time to allow Cavalcanti to recover from the Three Stooges-esque double eye poke, and he calls in the doctor to bring in a towel to allow her to wipe her eyes out. Cavalcanti is taking the time she needs to recover instead of rushing things, ignoring the jeers and whistles from the partisan crowd. After about half the time of the five-minute recovery period elapses, the doctor clears her to continue, and Cavalcanti is good to go. There is no apology glove touch offered from the French woman, who instead engages out of the gate by putting her foot on the gas. Mitchell warns Fairn again for her outstretched fingers, and Cavalcanti darts away from the flurries and largely avoids them until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
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Round 2
The second round opens with a more aggressive Fairn, who keeps busy with jabs and reaching push kicks. Mitchell informs the Portuguese fighter to close her fists now, as both women are leading with their fingers pointed at their targets. Fairn catches her foe at the end of a right hand, countering a low kick. Fairn does not change her approach much, with the same patterns and movements that Cavalcanti has picked up on already. Cavalcanti continues to pepper her with frustrating leg kicks, and she strafes to the side to evade the lion’s share of what “Infinite” slings her way. Fairn walks forward swinging a right hand, and Cavalcanti responds with a slapping left hand. The most effective strikes of the fight so far are Cavalcanti’s kicks, as neither land with anything noteworthy with their fists. Cavalcanti closes the distance and suddenly tags Fairn with a crisp combination, and Fairn looks to bully her back but hits nothing but air. Cavalcanti pops the Frenchwoman with another few kicks, and Fairn’s methodical jab is not able to get any respect. Cavalcanti loops a right hand over the guard, and she stings Fairn and throws the same strike two more times. Fairn shakes it off and gets back into her slow, inaccurate groove, seemingly stuck in first gear. Cavalcanti strings a few punches into a leg kick, and Fairn grabs hold of her to set up a clinch or potential takedown. Cavalcanti shrugs it off and resets, and she chops down the lead leg of her opponent from both sides. The kicks force Fairn to preemptively raise her lead leg, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
Cavalcanti leads the dance in the third round, moving right to the middle of the Octagon to strike with jabs and leg kicks. Fairn flails back with impunity, and she ends up walking into the chopping kicks that continue to work on her lead wheel. As the commentary booth loses interest in the matchup, the three men of John Gooden, Michael Bisping and Paul Felder begin to discuss their favorite sandwich – ending up settling on breakfast sandwiches with bacon and chipotle sauce as their top idea. All the while, the 140-pound ladies continue their slow, unhazardous kickboxing match, where there seems to be very little zip on any strikes. Fairn does not change her strategy, allowing Cavalcanti to pick away at her and counter her with small but scoring strikes. When Fairn lunges with a jab, Cavalcanti has a right hand read to smack her in the cheek. Cavalcanti uses head movement to make Fairn miss, and the accuracy rate of the Frenchwoman is likely very low in this contest. Fairn, with little options, moves forward into a clinch. Cavalcanti allows her to do this so that she can bust Fairn in the chops with several clean uppercuts. Fairn lets go of the grip and rebounds off the cage wall, and she is stuck eating shots while Cavalcanti slips the responses. Fairn reaches her with a right hand, and Cavalcanti keeps her guard high as the crowd gives it up for the briefly aggressive Fairn. This surge slows, as Fairn’s left eye begins to swell from the constant right hands she eats. Fairn shoots in for an ill-advised takedown, and Cavalcanti stuffs it with ease and moves around to take her back standing. Fairn shucks her way out of the body control, and Cavalcanti lays into her with a few more punches. The fight ends, and barring an extreme miscarriage of justice, France will be down 0-1 against the world today.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Zarah Fairn via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti because Zarah Fairn is pushing 40 and fades as fights go on. He notes Fairn's striking is technical but age and cardio are issues. Cavalcanti can push pace and stay in Fairn's face, and even if Fairn has early success, she will tire. Angelo acknowledges Fairn would have been his pick a few years ago.
Big Brady is confident in Cavalcanti, citing her youth, size, and superior skills everywhere. He notes Fairn's age (36 or 39) and questionable UFC caliber, and expects Cavalcanti to dominate on the ground or on the feet. He predicts a finish within the first two rounds, specifically a second-round TKO. He also mentions Fairn's history of missing weight, casting doubt on the fight happening.
Cody picks Cavalcanti, citing her youth (26), improvements, and win over Melissa Croden. He notes Fairn is 40, has missed weight badly, and has poor striking and grappling. Cavalcanti has a striking advantage and can grapple if needed. However, he warns that betting heavy favorites on debut fighters is risky, comparing the card to Minesweeper.
Daniel Levi picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti, citing her physicality, power, and well-rounded skills. He notes that Fairn is 39 years old and has a history of slowing down, while Cavalcanti is younger and more athletic. Levi acknowledges the risk of a debutant stun but believes Cavalcanti should win if she doesn't suffer from stage fright. He is not laying chalk at this price.
I'm going with Fairn as a big underdog. She has better experience and can outwork Cavalcanti if the fight stays at range. Cavalcanti is a low-volume striker and may be too patient. Fairn has shown she can put up numbers even in losses. I only take a half unit shot because it's low-level women's MMA and Fairn has weight issues, but I think she wins by decision.
Paul picks Fairn as a contrarian underdog, noting that Fairn outstruck Josiane Nunes 117-102 in her last fight and is a boxer who can stand and trade. He thinks Cavalcanti's loss to Gendrova (who lost to Liv Rock) is concerning. He also mentions the French crowd could influence judges. He takes a three-to-one chewy bet challenge from Cody, betting Fairn.
The MMA Guru picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti, noting she looks decent as a prospect with a good record, while Zarah Fairn lacks technique and has been dominated. He acknowledges uncertainty with women's MMA prospects but believes Cavalcanti will win by decision.
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo is confident in Jacqueline Cavalcanti, noting she is younger, stronger, and faster. He believes Julia Avila's best days are behind her and that toughness alone is not enough. He wishes Cavalcanti wrestled more to exploit Avila's defensive gaps, but still picks her confidently.
Big Brady picks Cavalcanti, noting that while she is overrated and has gone to split decisions, Avila has no path to victory. Avila cannot take Cavalcanti down (90% takedown defense) and is outmatched on the feet. He expects a unanimous decision win for Cavalcanti.
Cavalcanti is the better striker with technical advantages that will allow her to keep the fight standing and batter Avila from distance. However, the host notes that Cavalcanti is too big a favorite and wouldn't mind a small bet on Avila for the upset. Official pick is Cavalcanti by decision.
The MMA Guru picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti over Julia Avila, citing Avila's recent loss to Miesha Tate and her age (36). He notes Cavalcanti's wins over tough opponents like Josiane Nunes and Nora Cornolle, and sees her as younger, rangier, and with more room to improve.
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