Caio Borralho Exclusive UFC 334 Interview

We spoke to number 5 ranked UFC middleweight and Stake Ambassador, Caio Borralho, as he prepares for his feature bout at UFC 334 against Yousri Belgaroui.

The Fighting Nerds star spoke about his return from injury, his route to the World Title, and his thoughts on the current state of the middleweight division.

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How’s training camp been?

It’s been unbelievable, man. It’s good to be back in the cage. It hasn’t been as fast as I wanted - I wanted to be back in August, but I had to do this surgery on my rib.

It’s been 13 months since my fight in Paris, so even with my injury, I’ve had two fights this year.

Can you tell us about your rib surgery?

I broke my rib two weeks before my fight with De Ridder. I fought with a totally broken rib. It was the craziest two weeks of my life - it was a mental war. It was down to myself whether I would make the fight, and thank God I managed to get past these two weeks and fight.

The crazy thing about this injury, after the fight, I went to my doctor and he said we have to wait until it heals. I was waiting for 10 weeks and still had pain, so I went back to the doctor and we had an MRI. The results showed that it was separated even more after 10 weeks, and we had to have emergency surgery the next day. I had a titanium bracelet to keep the rib together so it would heal faster, and then it took a further 10/12 weeks. So that’s why I have had to wait.

Did the UFC know about the severity of the injury before the fight?

No! Even my family didn't know. My four coaches and my wider team knew, and my wife. But I didn't tell my mother or father. Fighting is already a lot of worry for them, so I didn't want them to worry more than needed, and I fought, and won!

What does it mean to you to have such a feature spot on the main card of one of the biggest fight cards of the year?

Man, I feel blessed. The UFC is always putting me in bright lights. I have always fought on main cards, and I have done two main events already. I have only been on the prelims once, and I feel great about it. The UFC are looking at my work inside and outside the cage. I have been the backup for the title already, and I feel I am in a good position.

I had fought 6 times in Vegas, and I asked the UFC to let me fight at The T-Mobile Arena. They gave me co-main to the BMF fight, and it was a great experience because I have been there watching fights so much. Now I asked them for MSG, and they have given me it. It’s against a tough guy, but a great fight, on a great card, and I feel like they really value my work.

You’ve never fought at MSG. Has that been a dream of yours for a long time?

It’s the place where a lot of the greatest guys have fought. I have been in a corner there and I felt the energy and I knew I needed to fight here. It’s a big, big event, and I feel I am sharing the same place as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and all of the greatest.

The division seems in a bit of a standstill with Sean Strickland’s public contractual complaints. What do you think of Strickland’s comments?

I don’t know what kind of deal Sean did with the UFC. When I first saw it, I thought Sean wants more money, and as a Champion, you can do that. But then, I saw Dana say that Sean signed a deal in May and he already wants to get out of it.

That doesn’t make sense to me. The UFC is so big man, that no athlete will ever be as big as the UFC. You’re a company man and you have to do what you have to do. But I don't blame Sean for asking for more money. I think it’s more about how Sean is almost stopping his career. He knows he is one or two fights away from retirement, but I don't think he cares anymore.

Do you think Strickland is close to retirement?

I think so, yeah. I think if he actually fights Imamov and he wins, then he will retire.

It seems Strickland only recently signed a new deal. If he refuses to fight, do you think the UFC should strip him of his title?

I think they can do it any time. They didn’t strip Mackachev, but he was supposed to fight in January but then refused, so they said fuck it we’re doing the interim belt.

I think they can do Imamov vs another big name for the interim, and if Strickland stays with this narrative for too long, they’ll strip him. They won’t let him hold the division. In a great way, everyone wants to see me vs Imamov again. Last time, I had to cut weight twice in three weeks as I was the backup for the title..

If they do strip Sean, do you think an impressive victory here is enough for you to be given a title shot?

Yeah for sure. My name is already on the table. That is undeniable. No one in the division did that, and I fought tough guys, I think after a big win on November 14, for sure.

There are three guys: Brendan Allen, Joe Pyfer and myself. It seems the UFC dont want Brendan, Pyfer has a fight for February, so maybe a big moment for me with a flash knockout or submission, it could happen.

Not many people would fight an unranked fighter, when they’re ranked number 5. How did this fight come about?

I was like, what the fuck, this doesnt make sense! I was back up for a title, then I fought De Ridder, now I am fighting someone with three fights in the UFC?!

That’s what I first thought, and I asked my manager to let the UFC know that’s how I felt. But after that, I was coming back from Arizona from the Jean Silva fight, and I was on the flight for 13 hours and I was thinking, ‘I have nothing to lose. If I lose to this guy, or a top 5 guy, it doesn't matter. I am a fighter, and I fight.’

I never say no to anyone. I’m going to go there, prove there are levels to this game.

Do you think that the UFC are trying to fast track Belgaroui due to the similarities in his career to Alex Pereira?

I think there is a good narrative, training with these former champs. But I think it's his style too. The UFC is turning more to entertainment than sport, and he is a guy who is knocking everybody out. He is a striker and they value strikers a lot. They have two options - either the knockout artist wins and they push that, or I win and they can use that to build me towards the title.

There is nothing to lose for the UFC in this fight.

There has been a lot of talk recently about how the UFC is more concerned with entertainment than talent, since they released Farid Basharat, who was 7-0 in UFC. Do you think this is true, and do you feel pressure as a fighter to get a KO or submission?

I think that’s the music that is playing right now. And we have to dance to the music that is playing. But for me, it’s about more than that. It’s about how you connect with the fans. It’s about how many people you attract to watch you fight. All these guys who have been cut, they are not too connected. They don't bring a lot of attention. Even though they are very good, they aren't well known.

For sure, it is something that goes through my mind, but I am not concerned. I've been doing great fights, striking and knocking people out. I am dancing to the music. But don't get me wrong, I want the win, and I will do what I need to win.

I think I am more than just a fighter for the UFC. I connect well, treat everyone well, and have a great fan base.

In terms of marketing, you’ve done that very well with Fighting Nerds. Is this something you tell your younger fighters?

For sure. That is something I always tell people on my instagram. I am trying to be an example for young fighters, especially from Brazil. You need to learn English so you can express yourself and tell your narrative well.

Once or twice a month, I go back to my gym and tell my students about this type of thing, and pass down how to act through the generations.

Israel Adesanya vs Shara Bullet looks to be announced. Was there ever any discussion for you to fight either of these two fighters?

It depends on him. If he wins his next fight and he comes back wanting to get the belt again, then maybe the conversation could come up. But I don't think so.

I think he has two or three more fights left in him. It’s a guy who has already accomplished everything, he’s already a star, he has a lot of money. I am a big fan of his, and we had a conversation once where we said if we fight it will be for the belt. But right now, I don't think so. But anything can happen in this business. If they offered it to me, I would say yes. I would call him and tell him it’s an honour and let’s do it!

What did you think of Khamzat vs Strickland and what do you see Khamzat doing next?

I trained with Khamzat years ago in Sweden. I was his training partner when he was set to fight Nate Diaz. He’s a great guy, and when we see each other we catch up and wish each other the best.

When my son and daughter were born he sent me a message, and we connected very well.

But this is a fight that can happen any time. We are both at the top of the division, and if he wants to come back, then he needs to fight for it. I don’t think he deserves to go straight for the belt again, and he needs to fight a top prospect.

Maybe after this fight, or after Ramadan, this fight can happen, and I would say yes right away.

Nunes vs Harrison is the co-main event. Who is your pick here?

I pick Nunes all day. I think it’s going to be exactly the same as her fights vs Ronda Rousey. Everyone was counting her out, but she came there and proved everyone wrong.

Ronda wasn't a girl who is comfortable getting punched in the face, and I think that’s the same with Kayla.

All respect to Kayla, I love her, I think she’s so good, so dominant, so strong, but when it comes to getting punched in the face, I don't think she’s even close to the level of Amanda.

I think she is going to destroy her within two rounds… respectfully!

Hokit vs Gane: How do you see this fight playing out?

I think Gane is too much for Hokit right now. Hokit is a small heavyweight and I don’t think he’s ever faced anyone like Cyril Gane. He is so big, athletic, and so fast. For sure, Hokit could take him down, but I think the weight, size and athleticism difference is going to be a big part.

I’m going with Gane, and I think he knocks him out.

Your former teammate Mauricio Ruffy suffered a bad KO in his last fight. Have you spoken to him about coming back to be part of the Fighting Nerds?

We are friends. I want the best for him. He felt it was time to move on in his career. I think he had a great connection with the Volkanovski gym, and he got great attention there, and I just wish the best for him. I was very sad when I saw him lose in that way. I was in his corner when he got in the UFC so it was hard to see.

He was doing so well, defending the takedowns, but then one second of lost attention and it cost him.

I don't think he’ll come back to Fighting Nerds, but he is someone who did so much for the team. He was a great example and we value that. But right now it’s just friendship.

Volkanovski again showed what a legend he is. Where do you rank him in the GOAT list?

If I talk about fighting IQ, maybe he is in the top 5. How he behaves and adapts when it comes to fighting, his IQ is gigantic.

He knows how to fight every single style, and he does it very very well.

But right now, he needs to fight Jean Silva. Jean is next, and it will be great with two bald guys going at it!

From a coaches point of view, how much footage will you have to watch to help Jean Silva beat Volkanovski?

Oh, a lot, man! The team is already doing that. Jean is already training and thinking about Volk.

He has been making people mimic Volk, and the team has done a lot of video study with AI, and Jean is going to come to this fight knowing everything about Volkanovski. We can take a lot from all of this footage.

If so, who would you like to see him fight? Sterling, Murphy, Pico?

Not those three! I want to see him fight Vallejos again.

The kid is doing very well in UFC, and if he beats Aljo, I think that is the fight.

I have heard some rumours of Volk going up, so if he does, it has to be Silva vs Vellajos. Making these two prospects fight each other for five rounds is the fight to make.