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UFC Fight Night Predictions: Moicano vs. Saint Denis - Fight Preview: Nora Cornolle vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

The women's bantamweight division will showcase an exciting rematch between Nora Cornolle and Jacqueline Cavalcanti at UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis. These two fighters previously faced each other in 2021, where Cavalcanti edged out a decision victory. Now, Cornolle looks to even the score, while Cavalcanti aims to solidify her standing in the division with another win. Both fighters have evolved significantly since their last meeting, making this rematch one to watch.

 

Betting Odds

Fighter	Odds
Nora Cornolle	+175
Jacqueline Cavalcanti	-210

Jacqueline Cavalcanti enters this fight as the favorite, owing to her strong technical striking and previous win over Cornolle. Nora Cornolle, however, is a dangerous underdog with knockout power, making her a potential upset threat in this bout.

 

Fighter Backgrounds

Nora Cornolle

Nora Cornolle, fighting out of France, holds a professional record of 8-1, with 6 of her wins coming by knockout. Cornolle is known for her aggressive striking and finishing ability, as showcased in her most recent TKO victory over Melissa Mullins at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2. At 34 years old, Cornolle has been on a tear, winning her last five fights, including a unanimous decision victory over UFC veteran Joselyne Edwards. Her ability to close the distance and overwhelm opponents with pressure makes her a formidable challenge for anyone in the division.

Training out of US Metro Bizot, Cornolle has honed her striking to a high level, often looking to finish fights early. While her knockout power is undeniable, her ground game has remained largely untested in the UFC. She will need to show that she can keep the fight standing against a technically sound striker like Cavalcanti.

Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Jacqueline Cavalcanti is a 27-year-old fighter from Portugal, currently holding a 7-1 professional record. Cavalcanti is a well-rounded fighter with a striking-heavy approach, but she has demonstrated excellent cage control and fight IQ, which helped her secure a championship belt in LFA before transitioning to the UFC. Her most recent victory came against Josiane Nunes in a split decision at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho, showcasing her ability to grind out tough wins over dangerous opponents.

Cavalcanti trains out of the Reborn Fight Team and brings a calculated approach to her fights. She’s known for her precise striking, utilizing a long reach to keep opponents at bay. In addition, Cavalcanti has shown excellent defensive grappling, avoiding submissions and keeping fights in her preferred striking range. With 3 knockout victories to her name, Cavalcanti is not just a decision fighter—she has the power to finish as well, though her recent wins have come via decision.

Fighting Styles and Strengths

Nora Cornolle

Cornolle is an aggressive striker with knockout power in both hands. Her ability to pressure opponents and land heavy shots has led to 6 knockout victories in her career. Cornolle’s striking is her biggest asset, and she often looks to close the distance quickly and brawl. Her finishing ability makes her dangerous in any exchange, and her confidence in her stand-up game is evident.

While Cornolle’s striking is a strength, her grappling is less proven. She has yet to be significantly tested on the ground at the UFC level, and Cavalcanti’s well-rounded approach could expose holes in Cornolle’s grappling if the fight goes to the mat.

Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Cavalcanti is a technical striker who favors a calculated approach. She uses her reach advantage and footwork to keep opponents at a distance, picking them apart with jabs and straight punches. Cavalcanti also has solid clinch work, where she can control the pace of the fight and land knees and short strikes.

While Cavalcanti doesn’t possess the same knockout power as Cornolle, her precision and volume striking make her a threat to win rounds on the scorecards. She has also shown good defensive grappling, which could be important if Cornolle tries to bring a more diverse game plan into the rematch.

Recent Performances and Matchup Analysis

Nora Cornolle

Cornolle has been on an impressive winning streak, with her last five wins showcasing her power and aggression. Her recent TKO win over Melissa Mullins was a prime example of her ability to overwhelm opponents with volume and pressure. However, her unanimous decision victory over Joselyne Edwards also showed that she can win fights on the scorecards if necessary, a trait that will be important against a patient striker like Cavalcanti.

Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Cavalcanti is coming off a split decision win over Josiane Nunes, where she showcased her ability to stick to a game plan and win close rounds. Cavalcanti’s technical striking and fight IQ have been key to her success in the UFC, and her ability to adjust mid-fight gives her an edge in longer bouts. While she has knockout power, Cavalcanti is more likely to outpoint Cornolle over three rounds with her precision and cage control.

Keys to Victory

Nora Cornolle

• Press the Action: Cornolle needs to use her power and aggression to make Cavalcanti uncomfortable. She should look to close the distance and turn the fight into a brawl, where her knockout power can come into play.
• Defend Takedowns: While Cavalcanti prefers to strike, Cornolle must be prepared to defend takedowns and keep the fight on the feet where she holds the power advantage.
• Start Fast: Cornolle should look to establish her presence early with aggressive combinations, potentially catching Cavalcanti off guard.

Jacqueline Cavalcanti

• Maintain Distance: Cavalcanti needs to use her reach and footwork to keep Cornolle at bay, avoiding the heavy exchanges that favor her opponent.
• Control the Pace: Cavalcanti should dictate the pace of the fight, using her precision striking and clinch work to wear down Cornolle over three rounds.
• Mix in Grappling: If the opportunity arises, Cavalcanti should test Cornolle’s grappling, potentially exploiting her lack of experience on the ground.

Prediction