Igor Cavalcanti erases DWCS heartbreak with 98-second TKO

Igor Cavalcanti earned his UFC contract in his second appearance on Dana White's Contender Series, stopping Oscar Ravello via technical knockout at 1:38 of the opening round on September 16 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas during Week 6 of DWCS 2026.

The Brazilian middleweight and his opponent engaged in a chaotic opening exchanges, both fighters immediately seeking damaging strikes. Cavalcanti connected with a powerful right hand that sent Ravello to the canvas early in the round. Although Ravello managed to absorb the initial offensive barrage and continued to fire back, Cavalcanti maintained relentless pressure, repeatedly landing ground strikes until referee Kevin MacDonald halted the bout after 98 seconds.

The victory marked Cavalcanti's first DWCS success after falling short in a previous appearance in 2024. With 14 professional wins now on his record, Cavalcanti earned his place on the UFC roster. In his post-fight comments, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity: "First of all, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity. You know, to breathe and to be able to fight and do what we love… We are brawlers, we love to brawl." The quick finish demonstrated the technical improvement and aggression that ultimately impressed the UFC brass enough to offer him a contract.