Caio Borralho has quietly but impressively built himself into one of the UFC’s fastest-rising middleweights. Currently ranked #7 in the division, the Brazilian brings a unique mix of slick grappling, developing knockout power, and high fight IQ. As he prepares to face France’s Nassourdine Imavov (#2) in the UFC Paris main event, we look back at three defining performances that have shaped his unbeaten UFC run.
1. Borralho vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk – UFC on ESPN 45 (Las Vegas)
Borralho first made waves as a serious grappling threat when he submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk in the second round. Oleksiejczuk pushed forward with strikes and clinch pressure early, but Borralho weathered the storm and stayed patient with his takedown setups. In Round 2, he exploded with a blast double-leg, secured top control, and transitioned to the back with a tight body triangle. Moments later, he sunk in a rear-naked choke for the tap at 2:49. The victory showcased Borralho’s submission skills and proved that he could neutralize aggressive strikers with technical grappling.
2. Borralho vs. Paul Craig – UFC 301 (Rio de Janeiro)
Fighting in front of a home crowd, Borralho delivered one of the most devastating finishes of his career with a second-round knockout of Paul Craig. While Craig looked to impose his clinch and kicking game, Borralho’s sharp boxing repeatedly found its mark. After dominating the first round, Borralho unleashed a brutal knee in the second that stunned Craig, then swarmed with punches to seal the KO at 2:10. The performance was a turning point, showing he wasn’t just a grappler. He was evolving into a dangerous striker capable of ending fights in spectacular fashion.
3. Borralho vs. Jared Cannonier – UFC on ESPN 62 (Las Vegas)
The most significant win of Borralho’s career came against former title challenger Jared Cannonier, where he earned a unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 48-46). Borralho started fast with calf kicks and clean counters, but Cannonier rallied in Round 2, rocking the Brazilian with heavy combinations. Borralho weathered the adversity and responded with his best round in the third, landing a huge 1-2 that nearly finished Cannonier. From there, he mixed in volume striking and late grappling control to pull away on the scorecards. The victory extended his unbeaten UFC run and cemented him as a legitimate middleweight contender.