Jacqueline Cavalcanti is carving out a successful path in Las Vegas. After moving from Brazil to Portugal at age 11, she now resides near the UFC APEX. Her journey has taken her from the favelas of Brazil to the bright lights of Vegas, and she recently experienced a unique desert adventure.
Desert Gun Adventure with Chumlee
In October, just before her highly anticipated UFC Vegas 111 matchup against Mayra Bueno Silva, Cavalcanti joined friends and TV personality Austin Russell, known as “Chumlee” from Pawn Stars, for a day of shooting in the desert. Chumlee, a friend of one of Cavalcanti’s managers, provided a variety of firearms, including shotguns, machine guns, and a sniper rifle.
- Cavalcanti had never fired a gun before this trip.
- The experience felt surreal to her, aligning with her gaming experiences in titles like Free Fire and Call of Duty.
- “It was very fun,” she shared, emphasizing that they shot at targets rather than living beings.
Cavalcanti expressed a desire to have Chumlee at one of her fights in the future. She previously took him on a tour of the UFC Performance Institute, which he enjoyed. As a Brazilian-Portuguese bantamweight fighter, she aims to make her mark in the UFC.
Career Progression and Upcoming Fight
Cavalcanti joined the UFC in 2023 after clinching the LFA bantamweight title. Since then, she has maintained an impressive record, achieving four consecutive victories against notable fighters, including:
- Zarah Fairn
- Josiane Nunes
- Nora Cornolle
- Julia Avila
Now she faces Bueno Silva, a former title challenger. Cavalcanti described this upcoming fight as the most challenging of her career and acknowledged the skills of her opponent, particularly in jiu-jitsu. She believes that Silva may try to take her down if she struggles to find her distance.
Pressure and Mindset
Bueno Silva is coming off three consecutive losses, which may add extra pressure to her as they face off. Cavalcanti commented on the psychological aspects of the fight, emphasizing the importance of her own mindset over her opponent’s. “For me, the most important thing is how I’m feeling, not how my opponent is feeling,” she stated, highlighting her focus on personal performance.
With an impressive trajectory and a unique desert experience behind her, Jacqueline Cavalcanti is set to make a statement in the bantamweight division at UFC Vegas 111. Fans can expect a fight that showcases her full potential.
