Caio Borralho gave a backstage interview after his fight at UFC 326, expressing pride in his performance and bouncing back from a prior loss. He highlighted his aggressive approach in the three-round bout, attempting a knockout while showcasing his complete skill set. Borralho praised his team's dedication and declared the start of 'belt season' for Fighting Nerds. He reiterated his repeated callouts of former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, whom he's targeted since his early UFC days, believing one more win positions him for a title shot. This intensifies the middleweight division's title picture, with Borralho positioning himself as a top contender. Expect Du Plessis to respond soon amid ongoing ranking shifts.
Caio Borralho made his intentions clear following his victory at UFC 326 on March 8, calling out former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in a backstage interview and declaring the beginning of what he called "belt season" for his team, The Fighting Nerds.
Borralho, 33, improved to 18-2-0 with the win, bouncing back from a prior defeat and demonstrating what he described as a complete performance. Fighting out of the southpaw stance at 185 cm tall with a 191 cm reach, the Brazilian holds the fourth spot in the middleweight rankings and has been targeting Du Plessis publicly since his early days in the UFC. He emphasized his aggressive approach in the three-round bout, pressing for a finish while displaying both his striking and grappling. His 56 percent striking accuracy is among the more efficient marks in the division.
Du Plessis, now ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, carries a 23-3-0 record and enters any conversation as one of the most dangerous fighters in the weight class. The South African switch-stance striker lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute and adds a wrestling dimension with 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. At 32 years old, the 185 cm, 193 cm reach fighter out of Team CIT remains a significant obstacle for anyone seeking title contention.
Why it matters
- Borralho's callout of Du Plessis directly targets the second-ranked contender, putting pressure on matchmakers to align the two.
- A Borralho victory in that matchup would likely push him to the front of the title queue in a crowded middleweight division.
- The stylistic contrast — Borralho's southpaw precision against Du Plessis's volume and takedown threat — makes for a compelling contender clash on paper.
Sunday, March 8, 2026
