Cavalcanti Erases DWCS Heartbreak With 98-Second TKO

Igor Cavalcanti made his second shot at the Contender Series count Tuesday night.

The Brazilian middleweight flattened Oscar Ravello in 98 seconds at the UFC Apex, landing a heavy right hand that dropped his opponent before referee Kevin MacDonald waved off the fight at 1:38 of the first round, per Sherdog. The finish earned Cavalcanti both his 14th professional win and a UFC contract on Week 6 of DWCS 2026.

Cavalcanti's Redemption After 2024 DWCS Loss

The bout opened at a frantic pace. Both fighters looked to land early damage, but Cavalcanti connected first with a right that sent Ravello crashing to the canvas. Ravello survived the initial surge and tried to fire back from the mat, but Cavalcanti kept the pressure on with ground strikes until MacDonald stopped it.

The victory wiped away Cavalcanti's previous Contender Series disappointment from 2024, when he failed to secure a contract in his debut appearance. "First of all, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity," Cavalcanti said after the finish, according to Sherdog. "We are brawlers, we love to brawl."

Cavalcanti joins the UFC middleweight roster immediately. No debut date has been announced.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Igor Cavalcanti erases DWCS heartbreak with 98-second TKO