.png)
Featured Image Credit: jacqueline.cavalcanti via Instagram
Topics: UFC, MMA, Conor McGregor, UFC News
James Taylor
Topics: UFC, MMA, Conor McGregor, UFC News
An undefeated female UFC star knocked her male sparring partner to the floor during a brutal training session, sending a clear warning to the rest of the division.
Jacqueline Cavalcanti has quickly emerged as one of the strongest fighters in the women's bantamweight division.
Since making her UFC debut in 2023, the 28-year-old has won all five fights, rising to tenth in the rankings, emerging as a future contender for the championship.
She has fought twice this year, beating both Julia Avila and Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision.
Advert
Although her victories in the UFC have come over the distance, she looks to have carried a ruthless edge into a recent training session.
In footage that has gone viral on social media, Cavalcanti can be seen moving around the cage with a much larger male sparring partner.
She threw a jab and lead hook before stepping in and landing an accidental knee, sending the man to the ground.
Although the man was able to lift his head and move his arm, he appeared to be hurt.
Cavalcanti's coach then asked her: "Was that real?"
To which, she replied: "Real."
The clip has drawn reactions from several of the UFC's biggest names.
Conor McGregor simply wrote: "SHOT!"
Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was also left shocked by the footage.
He posted: "She knocked out, and nobody says a word."
Jorge Masvidal, who famously knocked out Ben Askren with a flying knee just five seconds into their 2019 fight, reacted to the video with a clapping emoji.
Cavalcanti is fresh off her win over Silva, which she described as the biggest victory of her career, especially as Silva had recently challenged for the women's bantamweight title.
"Oh yeah, it's the biggest of my career," Cavalcanti said.
"[In January 2024], she fought for the belt. Now she fights me, and I think I showed everybody it's not a hard fight, it's easy [for me]."
All five of Cavalcanti’s UFC victories so far have come by decision, but she has still managed to climb into the top 10 of the bantamweight rankings.
She continued: "In 2026, I want to fight three or four times.
"All day, I'm ready. I never stop training. … My next opponent, I want Macy [Chiasson] or Irene Aldana.
"Irene Aldana, for me, is the best. She's had a big career, she fought a couple years ago for the belt, she's very good, I want to fight her."