Jacqueline Cavalcanti disconcerted by split decision

LAS VEGAS – Jacqueline Cavalcanti couldn’t understand the scorecards being read out at UFC on ESPN 62.

One judge awarded all three rounds to her opponent Josiane Nunes. The other two judges agreed with her, awarding her two and three rounds, respectively. Cavalcanti (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) had a closer decision than she would have liked, but she still earned a split decision over Nunes (10-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

“I was like, ‘Oh my God. Did this guy watch the fight?’ Because I think I won two or three rounds,” Cavalcanti told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight press conference Saturday. “But I’m lost. I lost three rounds? Maybe these judges are watching another fight or a different fight or not mine. But that’s okay. I try not to give the judges a choice.”

But a win is a win. Cavalcanti should take another step up the divisional ladder and could potentially even end up ranked. Regardless of whether or not she has a number next to her name, she is proud of her 2-0 start to the UFC season.

“Josiane, she’s a very good fighter,” Cavalcanti said. “She’s stronger. She’s very strong. All the time, she’s going forward and forward. Me and my time, we worked for that. We worked on punches. We worked on kicks. But my goal is to put her on the mat, but she’s stronger. In her last fight, she beat the 13th ranked fighter in the world in the UFC. This is my second UFC fight. I’m so proud of myself and my team.”

Cavalcanti signed with the UFC in mid-2023. She has only competed twice and hopes to increase her activity significantly in the future.

“I want to fight two more times (this year), I’m going to take some time,” Cavalcanti said. “I’m ready all the time. I’m staying ready now. I want to become champion one day, but I want to take it step by step. I want to fight other girls. I don’t care who my next opponent is. I’ll stay ready. The guys are calling me, I’m ready.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.