CAVALCANTI DEFENDS TOP-10 SPOT AGAINST UNBEATEN MONTAGUE IN QATAR
Jacqueline Cavalcanti puts her top-10 place on the line against undefeated Michelle Montague at the UFC event in Qatar on Nov. 21.
Jacqueline Cavalcanti will face Michelle Montague in a ranked bantamweight fight in Qatar. Multiple sources confirmed the matchup to Heavy, after an initial report from AG Fight.
The fight takes place on Nov. 21 at ABHA Arena in Al Rayyan. For both women, the stakes are simple: the winner keeps climbing, the loser falls back.
A Top-10 Spot Is On The Line
Cavalcanti is ranked No. 8 in the UFC media rankings and No. 7 in the Meta rankings. She defends that place in this fight.
Montague holds the No. 12 spot in the media rankings and No. 8 in the Meta rankings. A win would likely push her into the top 10.
That is what makes this no card-filler. One ranking spot, two fighters, and no room for both to rise.
Cavalcanti Needs The Bounce Back
Cavalcanti was born in Brazil and fights out of Portugal. She signed with the UFC in 2023 after winning the LFA title.
She beat Josiane Nunes and Nora Cornolle in her second year with the promotion. She then added dominant wins over Julia Avila and former title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva.
A recent unanimous decision loss to Ketlen Vieira stalled that run. Qatar is her chance to restart it.
Montague Has Never Lost
Montague, 32, signed with the UFC last year. She was the first female fighter from New Zealand to sign with the promotion.
Before that, she went 6-0 before the UFC, unbeaten across the PFL and Bellator. All six wins came by rear-naked choke.
She has stayed perfect in the UFC too. She beat Luana Carolina by decision on debut in Perth, then outpointed Mayra Bueno Silva earlier this year.
Now she gets the ranked name she needs. Beat Cavalcanti, and the new contender is real.
Will Cavalcanti hold her spot, or does Montague take it and stay perfect?
