LAS VEGAS – Jacqueline Cavalcanti couldn’t wrap her head around the scorecards as they were read at UFC on ESPN 62.
One judge awarded all three rounds to her opponent Josiane Nunes. The other two judges ruled in her favor, two and three rounds, respectively. It was a closer call than Cavalcanti (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) wanted, but she still notched a split decision over Nunes (10-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC).
“I was thinking, ‘Oh my God. (Did) this guy watch the fight?’ Because I think I won two rounds or three rounds,” Cavalcanti told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference Saturday. “But I’m lost. I lost three rounds? Maybe these judges are watching another fight or a different fight or not my fight. But it’s OK. I try not to give the choice for the judges.”
A win is a win, however. Cavalcanti should take another step up the divisional ladder and could potentially even end up ranked. Regardless of whether or not she’ll have a number next to her name, she’s proud of her 2-0 start in the UFC.
“Josiane, she’s a very good fighter,” Cavalcanti said. “She’s stronger. She’s very strong. All the time, she goes the front-front-front. Me and my time, we worked for this. We worked the punch. We worked the kicks. But my objective is to knock down her but she’s stronger. The last fight she (beat) the No. 13-ranked (fighter) in the world in UFC. This is my second fight UFC. I’m so proud of myself and my team.
Cavalcanti signed with the UFC in mid-2023. She’s only competed twice and hopes to significantly increase her activity going forward.
“I want to fight more two times (this year), take a short notice,” Cavalcanti said. “I’m ready all the time. I stay ready now. I want one day the champion but I want to make step by step. I want to fight other girls. I don’t give a f*ck who is my next opponent. I’ll stay ready. The guys call me, I’m ready.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
