LAS VEGAS – Jacqueline Cavalcanti couldn’t understand the scorecards being read out loud at UFC on ESPN 62.
One judge had opponent Josiane Nunes win all three rounds, while the other two judges had rounds two and three in Nunes’ favor. It was a closer decision than Cavalcanti (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) would have liked, but she still won by split decision over Nunes (10-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC).
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, did this person even watch the fight?’ Because I thought I won rounds two or three,” Cavalcanti told MMA Junkie and other reporters during Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “But I’m torn. Did I lose three rounds? Maybe these judges are watching a different fight or a different fight or maybe a fight that wasn’t my fight. But it’s OK. I try not to give the judges a choice.”
But a win is a win, and Cavalcanti can climb the division and potentially even make it into the rankings. Whether or not she has a jersey number next to her name, she’s proud of her 2-0 start at UFC.
“Josiane is a very good fighter,” Cavalcanti said. “She’s strong. Very strong. She’s always looking forward, forward, forward. Me and my time have been training for this. I’ve been training my punches. I’ve been training my kicks. But my goal is to beat her, but she’s stronger. In my last fight, she beat the No. 13 ranked fighter at UFC. This is my second fight at UFC. I’m very proud of myself and my team.”
Cavalcanti signed with UFC through mid-2023. Though she has only competed twice so far, she is looking to significantly increase her activity in the future.
“I want to fight two more times (this year) and I hope to hear from you soon,” Cavalcanti said. “I’m always ready. I’m ready now. I want to be champion one day, but I want to take it one step at a time. I want to fight other girls. I don’t care who my next opponent is. I’m ready. They’re calling me. I’m ready.”
For more on the card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC on ESPN 62 event hub.
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