Light Heavyweight

Rafael Cavalcante

Last fought: Feb 2016

RECORD

Pro

12-7-0 (1 NC)

UFC

1-4-0

Age

Height

6'1"

Weight

205 lbs

Reach

74"

Stance

Orthodox

Career Analytics

Advanced Metric	Career
Fight Shape
Avg Fight Time	9:18
Fight Completion Rate	62.0%
Avg Rounds per Fight	1.86
% Fights Inside the Distance	60.0%
Strength of Schedule
Opponent UFC Record (all, at fight time)	27-16 (62.8%)
Opponent UFC Record (among wins)	4-5 (44.4%)
Opponent UFC Record (among losses)	23-11 (67.6%)
Positional Profile
% Time at Distance (approx.)	49.3%
% Time in Control	1.3%
% Time Controlled	49.4%
Control Rate of Clinch/Ground Time	2.5%
Distance Striking
Distance Sig. Strikes Landed / Min	2.44
Distance Sig. Strikes Absorbed / Min	4.01
Distance Striking Differential / Min	-1.57
Distance Strike Accuracy	37.6%
Distance Strike Defense	60.5%
Power & Pressure
KDs per 100 Power Strikes Landed	1.56
Knocked Down per 100 Absorbed	1.21
TD Attempts per 5 Distance Min	0.22
TDs Faced per 5 Distance Min	7.20
Sub Attempts per 15 Control Min	0.00
Fade Index (R3 pace / R1 pace)	0.29

All metrics are UFC fights only. Methodology →

Where the Strikes Land

Share of landed significant strikes by target

Where the Fight Happens

Share of total fight time by position

Cumulative Significant Strikes vs the Light Heavyweight field

Rafael Cavalcante League percentile bands (p5–p95) League median

The shaded bands are the league’s middle range: the darker center covers the 25th–75th percentile of fighters, the lighter outer zones extend to the 5th and 95th — computed only over fighters whose careers reached each minute mark. How these are calculated →

Career Stats

Statistic	Rafael Cavalcante
Striking
Sig. Strike Accuracy	44.6%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min	1.8
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min	4.3
Strike Differential	-2.5/min
Grappling
Takedown Accuracy	0.0%
Takedown Defense	51.5%
Takedowns Landed/15min	0.0
Submission Attempts/15min	0.0
Control Time/15min	0:11
Finishing Ability
KO/TKO % of Wins	100.0%
Submission % of Wins	0.0%
Decision % of Wins	0.0%
Avg Fight Time	9:18
Secondary Stats
Knockdowns/15min	0.3
Reversals/15min	0.0

Last 5 Averages

Statistic	Last 5 Fights
Sig. Strike Accuracy	44.6%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min	1.8
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min	4.3
Takedown Accuracy	0.0%
Takedown Defense	51.5%
Control Time/Fight	0:07

Fight History

LOSS

vs. Ovince Saint Preux

UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs Thompson • Feb 2016Light Heavyweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Rafael Cavalcante10/2245%TD 0/1Ctrl 0:00

Ovince Saint Preux51/10250%TD 1/2Ctrl 6:34

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	6/11	55%	0/0	0:00	—
	Ovince Saint Preux	9/32	28%	0/0	0:40	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	2/4	50%	0/0	0:00	—
	Ovince Saint Preux	14/29	48%	0/0	2:02	—

R3	Rafael Cavalcante	2/7	29%	0/1	0:00	—
	Ovince Saint Preux	28/41	68%	1/2	3:52	—

LOSS

vs. Patrick Cummins

UFC 190: Rousey vs Correia • Aug 2015Light Heavyweight

KO/TKO (Elbows) • Rd 3, 0:45

Rafael Cavalcante23/4551%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:03

Patrick Cummins49/9253%TD 8/14Ctrl 7:11

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	11/26	42%	0/0	0:00	—
	Patrick Cummins	20/41	49%	5/9	2:54	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	11/17	65%	0/0	0:03	—
	Patrick Cummins	18/38	47%	2/4	3:44	—

R3	Rafael Cavalcante	1/2	50%	0/0	0:00	—
	Patrick Cummins	11/13	85%	1/1	0:33	—

LOSS

vs. Ryan Bader

UFC 174: Johnson vs Bagautinov • Jun 2014Light Heavyweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Rafael Cavalcante10/3727%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:30

Ryan Bader53/9456%TD 7/16Ctrl 8:22

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	3/10	30%	0/0	0:00	—
	Ryan Bader	23/37	62%	4/7	3:01	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	1/12	8%	0/0	0:03	—
	Ryan Bader	18/37	49%	2/4	1:49	—

R3	Rafael Cavalcante	6/15	40%	0/0	0:27	—
	Ryan Bader	12/20	60%	1/5	3:32	—

WIN

vs. Igor Pokrajac

UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs Henderson 2 • Nov 2013Light Heavyweight

KO/TKO (Knee) • Rd 1, 1:18

Rafael Cavalcante16/2176%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:03KD 1

Igor Pokrajac9/1656%TD 0/1Ctrl 0:50

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	16/21	76%	0/0	0:03	1
	Igor Pokrajac	9/16	56%	0/1	0:50	—

LOSS

vs. Thiago Silva

UFC on FUEL TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum • Jun 2013Light Heavyweight

KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 1, 4:29

Rafael Cavalcante24/6139%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

Thiago Silva37/7549%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:03KD 1

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	24/61	39%	0/0	0:00	—
	Thiago Silva	37/75	49%	0/0	0:03	1

Prior to UFC

Strikeforce (7 fights)

vs. Mike Kyle

Strikeforce - Barnett vs Cormier • May 2012

Overturned • Rd 1, 0:33

Rafael Cavalcante3/743%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:07

Mike Kyle0/10%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:14

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	3/7	43%	0/0	0:07	—
	Mike Kyle	0/1	0%	0/0	0:14	—

WIN

vs. Yoel Romero

Strikeforce - Barnett vs. Kharitonov • Sep 2011

KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 2, 4:51

Rafael Cavalcante17/4637%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:20KD 2

Yoel Romero26/6043%TD 0/6Ctrl 1:13

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	3/15	20%	0/0	0:00	—
	Yoel Romero	1/6	17%	0/2	0:06	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	14/31	45%	1/1	0:20	2
	Yoel Romero	25/54	46%	0/4	1:07	—

LOSS

vs. Dan Henderson

Strikeforce - Feijao vs. Henderson • Mar 2011

KO/TKO (Punch) • Rd 3, 0:50

Rafael Cavalcante11/2642%TD 0/2Ctrl 1:07KD 1

Dan Henderson24/4949%TD 3/4Ctrl 5:11KD 1

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	7/13	54%	0/0	0:11	1
	Dan Henderson	7/13	54%	1/1	2:43	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	2/9	22%	0/2	0:56	—
	Dan Henderson	8/22	36%	2/3	2:20	—

R3	Rafael Cavalcante	2/4	50%	0/0	0:00	—
	Dan Henderson	9/14	64%	0/0	0:08	1

WIN

vs. Muhammed Lawal

Strikeforce - Houston • Aug 2010

KO/TKO (Elbows) • Rd 3, 1:14

Rafael Cavalcante39/7552%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:17KD 1

Muhammed Lawal54/10452%TD 2/6Ctrl 2:33

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	8/24	33%	0/0	0:00	—
	Muhammed Lawal	21/40	52%	1/3	1:14	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	7/19	37%	0/0	0:00	—
	Muhammed Lawal	27/52	52%	1/2	0:59	—

R3	Rafael Cavalcante	24/32	75%	0/0	0:17	1
	Muhammed Lawal	6/12	50%	0/1	0:20	—

WIN

vs. Antwain Britt

Strikeforce - Heavy Artillery • May 2010

KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 1, 3:45

Rafael Cavalcante14/2948%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:30KD 1

Antwain Britt15/3839%TD 0/0Ctrl 1:21

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	14/29	48%	0/0	0:30	1
	Antwain Britt	15/38	39%	0/0	1:21	—

WIN

vs. Aaron Rosa

Strikeforce Challengers 5 • Nov 2009

KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 2, 3:25

Rafael Cavalcante34/4281%TD 1/4Ctrl 0:00KD 1

Aaron Rosa18/4045%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	16/16	100%	0/3	0:00	—
	Aaron Rosa	12/19	63%	0/0	0:00	—

R2	Rafael Cavalcante	18/26	69%	1/1	0:00	1
	Aaron Rosa	6/21	29%	0/0	0:00	—

LOSS

vs. Mike Kyle

Strikeforce - Lawler vs. Shields • Jun 2009

KO/TKO • Rd 2, 4:05

Rafael Cavalcante3/743%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:07

Mike Kyle0/10%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:14

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	3/7	43%	0/0	0:07	—
	Mike Kyle	0/1	0%	0/0	0:14	—

EliteXC (3 fights)

WIN

vs. Travis Galbraith

EliteXC - Unfinished Business • Jul 2008

KO/TKO (Knees) • Rd 1, 3:00

Rafael Cavalcante15/2171%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:00KD 1

Travis Galbraith13/1968%TD 0/3Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	15/21	71%	1/1	0:00	1
	Travis Galbraith	13/19	68%	0/3	0:00	—

WIN

vs. Wayne Cole

EliteXC - Return of the King • Jun 2008

KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 1, 2:47

Rafael Cavalcante29/3974%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:00

Wayne Cole2/825%TD 0/2Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	29/39	74%	1/1	0:00	—
	Wayne Cole	2/8	25%	0/2	0:00	—

WIN

vs. John Doyle

EliteXC - Street Certified • Feb 2008

KO/TKO (Knee) • Rd 1, 2:17

Rafael Cavalcante24/3373%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00KD 1

John Doyle8/1844%TD 0/4Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Rafael Cavalcante	24/33	73%	0/0	0:00	1
	John Doyle	8/18	44%	0/4	0:00	—

Last updated: 2026-08-22 | Data source: UFCStats.com