Rio de Janeiro – UFC middleweight Caio Borralho had a clear mantra coming into UFC 301 which ended up being somewhat prophetic after defeating Paul Craig.
“I was calling it since the first day of my training camp. The mantra of my training camp was I was going to KO Paul Craig and I did it,” Borralho told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“I predicted it just because it was the smartest way to win. Nobody wants to be in his guard or on the ground with him.”
Borralho (16-1) wasn’t afraid to grapple with Craig, but keeping it on the feet was the best way to winning the bout.
“I know I have Jiu Jitsu, but this mantra’s way was by knocking him out and I did it,” he said.
Fans have been picking at the fact that most of Borralho’s UFC wins have come by decision which irked the middleweight for a while.
“I don’t even need to say anything. My actions say everything for me. I did what I said I was going to do, I know that I can finish fights, and people (are) starting to realize that too. Sooner or later people are going to start to realize that,” he said.
“I don’t need to prove anything to anybody. I just need to prove to myself. I proved what I knew already so that’s what happened.”
Speaking to Daniel Cormier in his post-fight interview Borralho called out Jared Cannonier which may not be the easiest fight, but then again Borralho isn’t one to take his foot off the gas. It also doesn’t help that Cannonier is already booked.
“Actually I’m a company man. Whoever the UFC puts in front of me I’m going to fight,” he said.
“But actually I need some time to rest. For the past two years I did six fights and the past three years I did around eight fights. I just need time to relax.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Caio Borralho above.
