Julia Avila

Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
BETTING 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.
Advertisement

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)