Julia Avila and Jaqueline Cavalcanti kicked off UFC Vegas 102 in a bantamweight scrap, with Cavalcanti nearly a decade younger than her opponent.
“Raging Panda” Avila, 36, was returning for the first time since a December 2023 loss to former women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate. As for Portugal’s Cavalcanti, 27, the former LFA champ had won her first three outings in the UFC, with all three going the distance.
Jaqueline Cavalcanti, training with Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas under head coach John Wood, opened a feeling out process with Avila by holding center. Lots of feints and the odd jab that hit air from Cavalcanti, while Avila launched a few kicks from the outside. Cavalcanti fired a kick of her own, a front kick to the midsection that backed the “Raging Panda” up.
Avila would up her calf kick game later in the round, and find a home for her right hand. Cavalcanti checked a kick or two, but another nearly took her feet out from under her. In response, Cavalcanti ripped off a combo that saw a couple of blows land solid. Cavalcanti appeared to have found her range, and had the edge with her hands as she picked up the pace late in the frame.
Cavalcanti again took the lead in round two, backing Avila up. The Portuguese fighter had better movement in addition to beating Avila to the punch. Avila did attempt to press forward about 90 seconds in, leading to a brief exchange. Cavalcanti, however, was still proving to be the better striker, and Avila had yet to find an opening for a takedown, where she might show off her ground skills. That changed with about 90 seconds left, as Cavalcanti caught a kick and dumped Avila – with the ensuing scramble resulting in Avila landing a takedown and getting on top. She was split open in the sequence, dripping blood, but found enough time to drop a few elbows.
Still, it was Julia Avila looking worse for the wear at the end of round two. With a nasty cut over her eye, she entered the final frame almost certainly in need of a finish. Avila ripped off a couple of nasty leg kicks and punched her way in, closing the distance. It seemed like the American was throwing caution to the wind. As she needed to do in her position. Avila couldn’t keep the pressure up however, and Cavalcanti found openings, landing some solid blows despite being unable to put Avila away. Still, it was a clear-cut win for Jacqueline Cavalcanti, with Avila never coming close to the upset.
Following the fight, Avila took her gloves off and left them in the cage before confirming her retirement while speaking with Daniel Cormier.
Official Result: Jaqueline Cavalcanti def. Julia Avila by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
