Caio Borralho could have referred to as out Dricus du Plessis following his UFC Vegas 96 win, however he expects the UFC middleweight title to vary palms earlier than he will get his shot on the belt.
“I obtained [Sean] Strickland profitable this battle, possibly, as a result of I believe Strickland gained the final one, however possibly he left a little bit bit contained in the octagon that he might perform a little bit extra,” Borralho mentioned Saturday at UFC Vegas 96’s post-fight press convention. “However MMA is loopy. I at all times wager towards Dricus and he at all times wins, so I’m not betting on the subsequent one.
“Let these guys kill themselves and I’m the subsequent one [to challenge for the title].”
Du Plessis and Strickland are anticipated to fulfill in a rematch for the UFC middleweight title subsequent following du Plessis’ profitable title protection over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Du Plessis and Strickland beforehand met in January at UFC 293, the place du Plessis stole away Strickland’s belt with a razor-thin break up choice win.
Borralho, 31, has nice curiosity within the final result of that rematch following his victory over Jared Cannonier on Saturday evening.
Borralho pushed his undefeated UFC document to 7-0 at UFC Vegas 96 by placing collectively the best efficiency of his octagon profession in his first UFC essential occasion. Regardless of being recognized largely as a grappler, Borralho outstruck Cannonier in an all-standup affair and even almost knocked out the one-time title challenger with a thunderous salvo of punches within the fifth spherical. The judges in the end scored the bout unanimously in his favor (49-45, 49-45, 48-46), and Borralho left the UFC APEX pleased with the assertion he made to the division.
“I wasn’t there to grapple. I used to be there to convey hearth and be comfy within the hazard, as a result of Jared’s a really harmful opponent,” Borralho mentioned.
“My jab was was on level, my calf kicks have been on level, and I simply did the job. I virtually obtained the end. I believe the ref ought to have completed it, ought to have stopped the battle [in the fifth round] as a result of Jared was [hurt] very unhealthy, however it’s what it’s. I’m very grateful to be there [for] 25 minutes with among the finest on the earth — and inform me one man that did that to Jared. Inform me. There’s nobody that did that to Jared the best way I did it.”
An integral member of Brazil’s fast-rising Combating Nerds workforce, Borralho overcame a nasty minimize under his proper eye at UFC Vegas 96 to intestine out a win within the ultimate rounds. He mentioned post-fight that he someday hopes to be in comparison with MMA legends like Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones by being thought-about “one of the crucial clever guys that ever stepped into the octagon.” After step by step working his approach up the UFC ladder since debuting with back-to-back appearances on the promotion’s Contender Collection in 2021, Borralho believes he’s lastly on the doorstep of proving that he and his workforce belong alongside MMA’s elite.
“I believe [this win] takes me to among the finest on the earth,” Borralho mentioned. “Like, I’m prime 5 proper now. At the least, I deserve a top-five spot on Tuesday. And I believe I proved myself as among the finest within the division — that I can strike. That I can’t solely grapple, I can strike. I’ve the grappling, I’ve the wrestling, I’ve the sturdiness, I’ve the chin, I’ve the ability.
“I believe I confirmed everybody that tonight, and it’s simply going to take me to my belt. The mantra of this coaching camp was to indicate the brand new champ arrived, and I believe I confirmed that a little bit bit. If I’m not the subsequent one [to fight for the title], at the very least when there’s a dialog about who’s the subsequent one, my identify goes to be round there. I do know that.”
That being mentioned, Borralho additionally made it clear that he’s not fascinated by slowing down. After racking up seven wins over his first 28 months underneath UFC contract, Borralho is more than pleased to proceed including to his résumé whereas du Plessis and Strickland deal with enterprise.
“I desire a title shot, that’s for certain, however I’m an organization man,” Borralho mentioned.
“Whoever Hunter [Campbell] and Dana [White] ship me to battle, in the event that they’re individuals above me or one thing like that, just like the battle that I deserve, the battle that’s going to place me much more near the belt, I’m going to take it, as a result of I’m the corporate man.”
