Cachoeira had not been seen since coming into UFC 297 in January 2024 a full ten pounds heavy, forcing her fight with Jasmine Jasudavicius to be shifted up a weight class. Despite the beatdown she took from Jasudavicius, Cachoeira was sticking with 135lbs for her return.

Both women were throwing heavy to kick off Saturday’s bantamweight affair, with Cachoeira adding a knee to the body. Nunes was covering up after wading into the danger zone more than once, struggling to find a clean entry. Those dangerous exchanges would prove tragic for Nunes not long after, as in close, Cachoeira landed a perfectly-timed uppercut just as Nunes ducked her head down. Cachoeira was able to hold the back of the head in place, making hitting the target easy. Nunes dropped, eating a few more shots, soon out cold as Priscila Cachoeira celebrated her knockout victory and return to the win column.

Josiane Nunes has now lost three straight fights, which may spell the end of her run with the UFC where she falls to 3-3 overall. “Zombie Girl” Cachoeira snapped a two fight skid, meanwhile, and lives to fight another day.

Official Result: Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes by KO (uppercut), Round 1, 2:46

The post UFC Vegas 104: Priscila Cachoeira Crumples Josiane Nunes with Uppercut appeared first on Cageside Press.

The pair had a tough act to follow, after newcomer Wang Cong had landed a blistering KO on Victoria Leonardo just one fight earlier.

Nunes was coming off the first loss of her UFC tenure, while former LFA champ Cavalcanti had picked up the victory last time out, in her promotional debut against Zarah Fairn.

It was Nunes putting on the pressure early in the fight, looking to bully her way in on the taller, longer Cavalcanti. Barely a minute in, and the ref had warned Cavalcanti for having her fingers extended, but luckily no poke had actually transpired.

From the outside, Cavalcanti worked her 1-2, circling, and making it difficult for Nunes to find her range. Her length served Cavalcanti well, at least until Nunes finally backed her up to the fence under fire. That wouldn’t last however, with Cavalcanti circling out. Nunes would eat a right hand on her next charge forward; Cavalcanti would later land a kick to the body. At the same time, Cavalcanti was wearing a lump on her forehead, showing that Nunes had found her share of success when she did make it inside.

Nunes continued to look for a way inside as the second round got underway; Cavalcanti was able to circle out of harm’s way more often then not. Nunes looked to cut off her opponent at angles, and that allowed her to back Cavalcanti up with a punch. Nunes chopped to the inside of Cavalcanti’s lead leg, and looked to land her left hand. At least one of those caught Cavalcanti, who almost certainly felt the heat behind it.

The back half of the round found Cavalcanti again finding success with her length/reach, a long jab connecting a couple of times. Cavalcanti stayed mobile, never standing still long enough for Nunes to get off more than one or two punches. With just over a minute still on the clock in round two, however, Nunes landed a poke, with Cavalcanti immediately clutching her eye. Replays showed it may have actually been a punch, but Nunes was issued a warning regardless.

Round three found Nunes going to the body early, at the urging of her corner. Nunes was fighting with a little more urgency now, having struggled with the distance throughout the better part of the fight. Cavalcanti fired an uppercut about two minutes in that partially connected. Moments later, Cavalcanti dropped to her backside, off-balance, but she scrambled back up before Nunes could take advantage.

This one went the distance, with a bit of a surprise from one judge awarding all three rounds to Nunes. Overriding that, the remaining two scored the fight 29-28 for Jacqueline Cavalcanti.

Official Result: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

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While both had competed at 145 in their previous bouts, that weight class had been mothballed by the UFC following the retirement of Amanda Nunes. Chandler, meanwhile, missed weight on Friday, coming in a single pound over the limit.

Nunes immediately held center than pressed forward and declining a glove touch to kick off the fight. Chandler fired a left but the attack of Brazil’s Nunes, with a powerful left hand of her own, proved more dangerous. Chandler fired a kick up the middle, and soon, Nunes opted to drive Chandler into the fence, where the pair battled for head position.

Chandler finally just powered Nunes off the fence, but as impressive as that was, she was soon under fire and retreating once again. Nunes appeared happy to bite down and throw her left, and finally it was Chandler initiating a clinch. They would finally go to the ground with just over 90 seconds on the clock, Chandler on top, Nunes closing her guard.

The pair would head to a second round, where Chandler, nose bloodied, would eventually get the back of Nunes on the ground. Chandler managed to get both hooks in, but rather than lock up a body triangle, transitioned to mount. Nunes rolled, and Chandler went with her, eventually settling on top in half-guard. Chandler would find some room to smash away with elbows in the final minute and a half, but was also back in full guard. As for Nunes, she was unable to find any space to scramble free and really seemed to accept being on her back far more than she should have.

Josiane Nunes came out early in round three pressing the action, chucking left hands while Chandler countered and fired a kick. Nunes moved in with some nasty shots, landing more than one before they clinched up. That didn’t last long and they soon separated, moving back to center. Nunes was fighting like she was on a mission, and after clearly losing the second she likely was. Chandler, meanwhile, was circling on the outside, and being beaten to the punch.

At the midway mark, Chelsea Chandler finally tied things up, looking for a takedown. It wasn’t there, and Nunes went back to leading the dance, backing Chandler up. Chandler, meanwhile, landed a kick to the rear end of Nunes while backing up. With the final minute approaching, Nunes appeared to be in control of the round. Chandler pumped her jab, but Nunes fired off a superman punch. Left hands followed, and while bloodied, it was Nunes walking her opponent down.

That turned out to be too little, too late however, with Chandler winning the first two rounds on all three scorecards.

Official Result: Chelsea Chandler def. Josiane Nunes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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The match-up saw France’s Zarah Fairn return, looking to shake off two straight losses in a fight with Brazil’s Josiane Nunes. The bout was the second in on the Rio card, and saw Nunes with a chance to stake her claim as a potential title contender, whenever double champ Amanda Nunes opted to once again defend her 145lb title.

Fairn vs. Nunes was a scrap right out of the gate. Fairn opted to take the fight to Nunes, who fired back looping hooks. Both women were landing, but Fairn was pressing. She landed a volley of uppercuts, one after the other. But Nunes refused to back down, and began to inch forward, firing her hands and mixing in kicks.

Fairn began picking her shots then, mixing in a standing elbow, seemingly very comfortable with the distance. Nunes closed the distance, trying to make things ugly, but Fairn pushed away and landed a combo. Through half a round, the bout had been almost non-stop action. Nunes fired a left that landed. Fairn used her length, landing her jab, then firing a knee up the middle. As the round progressed, Fairn slowed, and Nunes saw her opening. She charged forward with a combo, the crowd erupting behind her. Fairn retreated, then ate another barrage. They tied up, and Nunes landed a right hand off the break — but they’d head to round two with Fairn arguably in the lead.

Round two opened with Josiane Nunes pressing forward immediately. Fairn was still seemingly in search of her second wind. Fairn fired a high kick, but didn’t have much on it, and it was easily blocked. Nunes, walking forward, fired a superman punch, then another. She ripped the body then went high. Fairn, retreating, earned some space by launching a combo. Moments later, Nunes tied things up, pressing her larger opponent up against the fence and firing knees to the thigh. Fairn fired back, broke free, and fired a 1-2. More long, straight punches from Fairn followed.

Coming into the final minute of the second round, Nunes again tied things up along the fence. She fired a knee as the pair jostled for head position. Fairn managed to reverse, only for Nunes to reverse again. Back at center, they pair traded to the bell, Fairn mixing in a knee before Nunes opened up.

While round two had ended up closer at the the end than it had started, Fairn’s corner advised her that she needed the third round. She worked her jab and straight punches early, and reversed quickly when Nunes closed the distance in the opening minute. Fairn appeared much more active in the opening half of the third, her volume clearly turned up a notch. Near the midway mark of the round, Nunes punched her way in, landing her left hand. Fairn was forced to cover up, then retreat, eating some solid blows to head and body.

Fairn survived, after what seemed like a minute-long barrage. With 90 seconds on the clock, it was still anybody’s round. Again, Nunes tried to close the distance, exploding forward and putting Fairn on the back foot. This time, Fairn survived, and pressed forward herself, more straight punches landing on Nunes. In turn, Nunes closed the distance nad landed a left; the final 10 seconds saw them trading at range.

One of the better women’s featherweight fights in recent memory went to the scorecards.

Official Result: Josiane Nunes def. Zarah Fairn by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Representing Hong Kong in what had become a women’s featherweight fight, Pascual was a former Invicta FC fighter making her promotional debut— just over a month removed for seeing her hand raised in the Invicta cage.

Pascual was also making a bit of history as the first female fighter to represent Hong Kong in the UFC. But in the end, she received a rude welcome to the octagon care of Nunes.

Nunes, normally a bantamweight, and Pascual didn’t shy away from trading in the middle with big power shots to open the fight. Kicks and punches were thrown from both ladies, who were swinging hard. Nunes was more of the aggressor rushing forward with kicks and hooks. She did sit Pascual down with a left cross briefly. Pascual jumped back up and landed a few solid knees. Pascual was the much bigger girl, with Nunes closing the distance with looping punches. She was overzealous and walked right into a takedown from Pascual.

More forward pressure from Nunes in round two finding her shots. She never let Pascual off the hook putting the pressure on her. A few good left hands landed in a row and one dropped Pascual. Pascual was in danger, quite badly, even shooting for a takedown and getting mounted. She did escape though and get back to her feet, escaping what felt like a near finish. Nunes was doing well picking her shots but Pascual drove through with a double leg takedown. Pascual held the position for the remainder of the round but did nothing on top.

In the final round, Nunes did a good job seeing the shots of Pascual and shrugging her off. Nunes never stopped throwing her big left hook landing and backing up Pascual. Pascual continued trying to get the fight down but good movement didn’t allow that. Every time Pascual was shooting in Nunes made her pay with a flurry of strikes. In the final ten seconds Pascual got the takedown and ended the fight on top.

ANOTHER dominant performance by @JosianeNunesUFC 👏 #UFCVegas49 pic.twitter.com/6b6pFuJMil

— UFC (@ufc) February 26, 2022

No question as to the winner in this one: a dominant performance by Josiane Nunes, against a much larger opponent.

Official Result: Josiane Nunes def. Ramona Pascual by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

The post UFC Vegas 49: Josiane Nunes Dominates Ramona Pascual appeared first on Cageside Press.

Ramona Pascual
Standing at 5’7″
Fighting at 145 lbs (featherweight)
33-years-old
From Hong Kong but living in Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Training out of Syndicate MMA
A pro record of 6-2
4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission

What to expect from Pascual in the UFC:

Putting Hong Kong on the map in the UFC is Pascual. She becomes the first woman from Hong Kong to compete in the octagon come Saturday. Outside of MMA she played a ton in Rugby and was 6-1 as a pro muay thai fighter. Since losing two fights in a row in 2017 she has won her next/last four fights.

Early on, before her current win streak, Ramona Pascual didn’t look good to me at all. She has looked a lot better recently but it’s hard pass judgement based off her latest fights. In her last three fights, her total cage time has been 4:16. While that does look good on paper, when looking at who she has been fighting, it’s not as impressive.

Pascual doesn’t mind taking the fight anywhere. I believe where she’s best is in the clinch with her Muay Thai. She is easily pressed against the cage which is an issue but her Thai plum knees are dangerous. In space, she does a lot of reaching with her hands when trying to close the distance. She’s definitely going to be easy to be countered if she doesn’t fix that. Pascual has some wrestling upside but struggles to get to that point. Her entries to takedowns are problematic, as she is often found telegraphing her shots and reaching again with her hands. Instead of shooting on the legs and finding an angle she comes in straight and attempts upper body takedowns. It’s very sloppy and it’s hard to imagine her finding a lot of success.

Her Muay Thai is solid, she throws some heavy kicks, throws decent output, and has a good top position but it’s hard to see her thriving even in a shallow division.

How she matches up with Nunes:

Nunes is also a fighter with a Muay Thai background. She’s a much more powerful and aggressive fighter compared to Pascual. Nunes doesn’t have the best takedown defense and off her back is where she’s the weakest. The path to victory for Pascual is to get the takedowns but she won’t be able to out-muscle the Brazilian. Nunes will want to stand and bang with anyone and if that happens Pascual will fall first. It’s a bad fight for Pascual and she might not even survive three rounds.

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On Friday, UFC officials announced that Invicta FC vet Ramona Pascual (6-2), fighting out of Hong Kong, would face Nunes at the Fight Night event. The card takes place Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Apex in Las Vegas.

The bout will be contested at bantamweight, where Pascual will return for the first time since 2019.

Pascual joins the Ultimate Fighting Championship after winning her lone fight in Invicta FC earlier this year. That bout saw her stop Shamir Peshewa with knees to the body a minute into the opening round. Following the victory, Pascual revealed that peer pressure, primarily the stigma about fighting not being appropriate for girls, saw her delay starting her MMA career until she was 27.

Now 33, she’s arrived at the highest level of the sport having won her last four fights.

Nunes (8-1) has won seven straight, with her only loss coming against current UFC star Taila Santos, prior to either fighter joining the UFC. Nunes won her promotional debut last year, finishing Bea Malecki within a round.

UFC Vegas 49 is currently set to feature the following bouts, announced Friday:

• Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green
• Misha Cirkunov vs. Wellington Turman
• Ji Yeon Kim vs. Priscila Cachoeira
• Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joel Alvarez
• Armen Petrosyan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
• Rong Zhu vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
• Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam
• Jinh Yu Frey vs. Hannah Goldy
• Alejandro Perez vs. Jonathan Martinez
• Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Michael Gillmore
• Victor Altamirano vs. Carlos Hernandez
• Josiane Nunes vs. Ramona Pascual

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Cageside Press confirmed the booking Friday, following an initial report by Eurosport.nl’s Marcel Dorff, citing the UFC’s Chinese website.

The fight will be the second in the promotion for Nunes, who made her debut in August against Bea Malecki. She won the fight via knockout towards the end of the opening round.

Prior to joining the UFC, Nunes had competed for various regional promotions in her native Brazil. She has not lost a fight since 2013.

China’s Wu will be looking to shake off a couple of losses come February. “Mulan” has dropped back-to-back decisions against Mizuki Inoue and most recently Joselyne Edwards. Prior to those defeats, she had claimed her lone UFC win against Lauren Mueller in a flyweight bout.

The UFC’s February 26, 2022 Fight Night event is expected to take place at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is headlined by lightweight action in what very well could be a title eliminator between Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev.

Thus far, the following bouts have been reported for the event:

Beneil Dariush vs. Islam Makhachev
Makhmud Muradov vs. Misha Cirkunov
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Zhu Rong
Hannah Goldy vs. Jinh Yu Frey
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joel Álvarez
Victor Altamirano vs. Carlos Hernández
Farès Ziam vs. Terrance McKinney
Gregory Rodrigues vs Armen Petrosyan
Jonathan Martinez vs. Alejandro Pérez
Ion Cuțelaba vs. Ryan Spann
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Marcin Tybura
Jonny Parsons vs. Micheal Gillmore
Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ji Yeon Kim
Wu Yanan vs. Josiane Nunes

The post Josiane Nunes vs. Wu Yanan Scheduled for UFC’s February 26 Card appeared first on Cageside Press.

In a finish that will be among the contenders for Knockout of the Year in 2021, the Chilean prospect secured the perfect ending to a fight he was already dominating. Picking up his first win inside the octagon in the process.

With his promotional debut, Bahamondes (12-4) had impressed in a losing effort against John Makdessi. Saturday night, he dazzled, firing numerous flashy spinning attacks before ending the fight in the final round.

Bahamondes was far from the only Performance of the Night bonus winner on the UFC Vegas 34 card. Three other fighters picked up $50,000 for their individual efforts. No Fight of the Night was awarded.

Another fighter securing their first UFC win was among Saturday’s bonus winners. Josiane Nunes had expected to make her promotional debut earlier this year, only for Zarah Fairn to badly miss weight, leading to the fight’s cancellation. Nunes made up for that Saturday, debuting against “Bad News Barbie” Bea Malecki, and knocking out the towering Swede towards the end of the opening round.

William Knight was also rewarded, for his knockout of Fabio Cherant, an impressive display of power. And Alexandre Pantoja, who kicked off the main card against Brandon Royval, collected for a second round rear-naked choke — which may have earned him a title shot as well.

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The TUF 28 alumni was up against Brazil’s Josiane Nunes, who entered the night on a six-fight win streak. Nunes’ only loss had come to fellow UFC fighter Taila Santos, in the pair’s time outside the promotion.

Malecki seemingly towered over her opponent, sporting both a seven inch height and reach advantage. She used her frame to throw out some kicks, but Nunes was able to move in, attacking the body, and later chopping at Malecki’s lead leg. Soon enough, Nunes worked in and began teeing off on the Swede, who could do little more than cover up and eat a barrage of punches. While she survived, Nunes had proven a point; Malecki proved her own shortly later, landing a head kick that Nunes powered through.

Nunes would swarm her opponent a second time later in the round, and this time, she found a home for her overhand left. While Malecki had survived the initial attack, that left landed perfectly, sending her crashing to the canvas. Josiane Nunes had the one-punch, walk-off KO!

WOOOOW! WELCOME TO THE UFC Josiane Nunes!!!

[#UFCVegas34 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPN2 & @ESPNPlus] pic.twitter.com/lRpjDI7nOx

— UFC (@ufc) August 22, 2021

After a fight with Zarah Fairn was cancelled earlier this year, the win was unquestionably a stellar debut for Josiane Nunes. Malecki, meanwhile, has been handed her first defeat.

Official Result: Josiane Nunes def. Bea Malecki by knockout, Round 1, 4:54

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