TLDR
- Igor Cavalcanti defeated Oscar Ravello at DWCS Week 6 and earned a UFC contract
- Cavalcanti lost his first Contender Series appearance in 2024 to Seok Hyeon Ko via unanimous decision
- He went 4-1 in MMA and 2-0 in boxing/kickboxing between his two Contender Series fights
- Cavalcanti moved up from welterweight (170 lbs) to middleweight (185 lbs) for his second appearance
- His first opponent Ko is now 2-1 in the UFC with fights scheduled through November 2026
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | cbssports.com | cagesidepress.com
Igor Cavalcanti earned a UFC contract on Tuesday after defeating Oscar Ravello at Dana White’s Contender Series Week 6. The Brazilian middleweight made the most of his second opportunity on the show after losing his first appearance in 2024.
Cavalcanti, 28, competed at welterweight during his first Contender Series fight in September 2024. He lost a unanimous decision to Seok Hyeon Ko, who went on to receive a UFC contract that night.
The loss to Ko marked the first defeat of Cavalcanti’s professional career. Ko pressured him over three rounds after Cavalcanti failed to finish the fight early, something he had done in all nine of his previous professional wins.
Building Back After First Loss
Following his 2024 loss, Cavalcanti stayed busy with seven fights across multiple combat sports. He went 4-1 in MMA and 2-0 in boxing and kickboxing over the next two years.
His only loss during that stretch came in October 2025 against Kamil Kraska, who submitted him via arm triangle choke in the second round. Kraska was defending the FNC Welterweight Championship at the time and has successfully defended the belt since.
Full power on display 💪
Igor Cavalcanti makes a statement with a RD1 finish on #DWCS!
[ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/GrXOWtnA2I
— UFC (@ufc) September 16, 2026
Cavalcanti’s most recent fight before the Contender Series came in May 2026. He stopped Marek Jakimowicz with four seconds remaining in the first round at FNC 31.
For his return to the Contender Series, Cavalcanti moved up to middleweight at 185 pounds. In his previous middleweight bout, he weighed in at just 178.6 pounds.
Facing a Proven Opponent
Oscar Ravello entered the fight with a 13-3-1 record and experience at both welterweight and middleweight. Ravello had won championships in both the FFC and WCC promotions before his Contender Series appearance.
Before earning his spot on the show, Ravello won both welterweight and middleweight titles within the WCC. His resume includes an early career fight against Michael Morales, who is now ranked #3 in the UFC welterweight division with a 19-0 record.
Cavalcanti’s first opponent, Seok Hyeon Ko, has compiled a 2-1 record in the UFC since his 2024 contract. Ko defeated Oban Elliott and Phil Rowe in his first two UFC fights before losing to Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani.
Ko is currently scheduled to face Wellington Turman on November 7th. Turman holds a 3-6 record with the UFC since joining the promotion in 2019.
Cavalcanti now holds a 13-2 professional MMA record. He spoke to media members including MMA Junkie after his victory and contract signing on Tuesday night.
