UFC Qatar adds Cavalcanti vs. Montague and Dom Mar Fan vs. Motta on Nov. 21

MMA-TV Newsroom Summarized with AI Today at 9:16 PM Updated Today at 9:49 PM AI checked 16 minutes ago

The bottom line

Jacqueline Cavalcanti meets unbeaten Michelle Montague at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, and Prochazka's coach admits the Stirling main event is a risk but says waiting on Costa was not an option.

From 6 reports by 4 outlets

Latest Prochazka's coach admits risk in Stirling fight, says team would not wait on Costa Today at 9:49 PM 4 outlets

UFC Qatar adds Cavalcanti vs. Montague and Dom Mar Fan vs. Motta on Nov. 21 — Photo via MMA Fighting · added Today at 9:16 PM

What we know

UFC Qatar takes place Nov. 21 at Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Doha, headlined by Jiri Prochazka vs. Navajo Stirling, a five-round light heavyweight bout.
Cavalcanti and Montague both hold top-15 spots in the UFC bantamweight rankings; in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings they are No. 9 and No. 12.
Dom Mar Fan (9-3) vs. Nikolas Motta (15-6, 1 NC) has been officially added at welterweight.

Reported, not confirmed

Prochazka is ranked No. 4 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings and Stirling No. 7. MMA Fanatik Slovakia
Tipsport lists Prochazka as a slight favorite at 1.65, with Stirling at 2.12. MMA Fanatik Slovakia
Prochazka's coach said the team took the Stirling fight rather than wait on talks with Costa, which could have meant fighting about a year later. MMA Fanatik Slovakia
Brian Ortega's fight with Dan Hooker is his UFC lightweight debut. Combat Sports UK

Two fights joined the UFC Qatar card on Thursday, and the bigger one pits a fighter trying to recover from her first UFC loss against an opponent who has yet to lose. Jacqueline Cavalcanti and Michelle Montague meet at bantamweight on Nov. 21 at Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Doha.

Cavalcanti, a 29-year-old Brazilian, won her first five UFC fights before dropping a unanimous decision to longtime contender Ketlen Vieira in May. Another ranked opponent gives her a direct route to answer that loss.

Montague is a former PFL fighter who joined the UFC in 2025. She has won both of her UFC fights on points, over former title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva and Luana Carolina. That is a change from her early career, when her first six pro wins all came by rear-naked choke.

The rankings are at stake. Both women are in the UFC's top 15 at bantamweight, and in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings Cavalcanti is No. 9 and Montague No. 12. Ag. Fight reported the booking first.

At the top of the card, Jiri Prochazka's coach has acknowledged the danger in facing Navajo Stirling, who is 11-0 and a sparring partner of Carlos Ulberg. Speaking to Sport.cz, he said the team could not stand still and negotiate with Costa only to fight perhaps a year later. He added that Prochazka himself wanted to fight, and that Stirling was available with a date and preparation conditions that suited them. Tipsport lists Prochazka as a slight favorite at 1.65 against 2.12 for Stirling.

The five-round light heavyweight main event is the test of Stirling's unbeaten run, while the bantamweight fight offers one of the two women a clear step up the ranks.

Summary: Jacqueline Cavalcanti meets unbeaten Michelle Montague at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, and Prochazka's coach admits the Stirling main event is a risk but says waiting on Costa was not an option.

Key points (one per line): Jacqueline Cavalcanti (10-2) faces Michelle Montague (8-0) in a ranked bantamweight bout at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21 in Doha.
Dom Mar Fan (9-3) vs. Nikolas Motta (15-6, 1 NC) is officially added at welterweight.
Prochazka's coach calls the Navajo Stirling main event a risk but says the team did not want to wait on talks with Costa.