With momentum building once again for the Fighting Nerds camp, Caio Borralho believes he has a chance to put the finishing touch on what he calls the team’s “comeback season.” When Borralho steps into the cage against Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326, the Brazilian standout isn’t just fighting for another win. He’s aiming to cap a resurgence for the team that helped shape his rise in the middleweight division.
“Yeah it’s the comeback season and no one’s going to stop that,” Borralho told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“We got back with our team, we got the connection back, put our feet on the ground a little bit more. You guys are seeing the results. I just feel proud of the guys, happy for them, and I was the first one to get into the UFC, and I’ll be the last one to complete the comeback season.”
Borralho (17-2) expects the matchup to quickly turn into a battle of strengths, with his opponent likely looking to lean on his grappling advantage. Based on what he’s seen from film study and past performances, he believes the game plan will be clear the moment the fight begins.
“100% he’s going to shoot. If he doesn’t shoot I think he’s out of his mind. He know which guys I strike with already. With (Nassourdine) Imavov, one of the best strikers in the division, look what I did to (Jared) Cannonier. Look what I did to Paul Craig,” he said.
“So 100% he going to try to take me down and choke me. That’s the only way that he can get a win on Saturday. If you see the data, in his last 5 fights, he was already grappling and he (shot) before one minute in every five fights.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Caio Borralho above. He faces Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 on Saturday night.
