The Restless Ambition of Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Jacqueline Cavalcanti only sees possibilities when she examines the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight division, which has grown somewhat aimless with the absence of the great Amanda Nunes.

The former Strikers Cage Championship and Legacy Fighting Alliance titleholder will collide with Josiane Nunes as part of the UFC on ESPN 62 undercard this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Cavalcanti, 26, has rattled off four straight victories since she suffered her only professional setback in a split decision defeat to Martina Jindrova in the Professional Fighters League in March 2022. Bold aspirations buoy her presence in the UFC.

“My future plans include being champion,” Cavalcanti told Sherdog.com. “Our weight class is a little lost. Ranked fighters seem to only fight once a year. Things are at a standstill. I know that more than half the year is already gone, but I’d like to fight again at the earliest opportunity.”

Cavalcanti made her promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 226, where she took a three-round unanimous decision from Zarah Fairn in September. Filling in for an injured Hailey Cowan on short notice, she outpaced Fairn by a staggering 126-39 margin in the significant strikes landed department. Cavalcanti expects to show marked improvement in her second assignment inside the Octagon.

“This time around, I’ll have a full training camp,” she said. “I’ll be able to use my skill set much better and show up even more prepared. I had already begun my camp at the start of April even though I wasn’t yet booked. I knew I could have an opportunity to fight at any moment. I wished to be as prepared as possible. It’s important to stay ready all the time. Opportunities show up when you least expect them.”

Nunes has won nine of her past 10 bouts but finds herself on the rebound after a disappointing unanimous decision loss to Chelsea Chandler at UFC Fight Night 239 on March 16. The 30-year-old Brazilian owns a 3-1 record in the UFC.

“I know that Josiane has more UFC experience, but that doesn’t bother or demotivate me,” Cavalcanti said. “Beating her will be a big step for me. I know we’ll have a war because I’ll enter the cage looking to beat her by knockout. I know she has the same objective. Both of us are focused on winning.”

Cavalcanti split her training camp between Syndicate MMA and Team Domingos, covering her bases alongside trusted stablemates like Luana Carolina, Luana Santos, Dione Barbosa and former UFC women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.

“We have a great team,” she said. “We all have the same objective: to be champion and to get better every day.”

The focus was on Nunes and the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

“I’ll remain at the ready,” Cavalcanti said. “For now, I’m confident I’ll have a war with Josiane. I’ll be the first person to knock her out.”