Women’s Bantamweights
Jacqueline Cavalcanti (7-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Nora Cornolle (8-1, 2-0 UFC)Cornolle and Cavalcanti each made successful UFC debuts during the promotion’s trip to Paris in 2023, and the two return a year later to try and keep their momentum going. France’s Cornolle will be the local favorite, and she has had her moments under the UFC banner, even if there has been little in terms of consistency. A striking convert, Cornolle’s regional film didn’t amount to much—her wins typically said more about her opponents than anything else—but she has looked physically powerful throughout, and the trend has carried over into her UFC career. Her fights have been a bit messy, particularly with both of her UFC opponents looking to take things to the mat. She was a bit lucky to walk away with the decision victory against Joselyne Edwards and had her difficulties in her last bout against Melissa Mullins. However, Cornolle wound up suddenly turning things around and knocking Mullins out, and that power should serve her well going forward, even if stringing together continued success might be a bit of an adventure. This was initially a big spot for Cornolle to take on Germaine de Randamie, but with the former featherweight champion injured, she instead gets a chance to avenge her lone professional loss from her 2021 debut against Cavalcanti. Portugal’s Cavalcanti is another fighter who wasn’t particularly proven ahead of her signing with the UFC, but she has shown herself to be a worthy flier. She’s tall, athletic and has shown the ability to keep pumping out some consistent striking volume. Her last fight, a victory over Josiane Nunes just a shade over a month ago, was a positive sign for her going forward. She had shown a tendency to get scared off by more powerful opponents in the past, but she stuck to her guns over three rounds against a power puncher in Nunes. Both women are much better than they were back in 2021—on top of being Cornolle’s first professional fight, it was only Cavalcanti’s second—but Cavalcanti’s speed advantage was clear in that fight, and it should serve her similarly well the rematch, even if Cornolle still figures to get her shots in. The pick is Cavalcanti via decision.
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