Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho: UFC Vegas 96 Main Card Preview and Prediction4 months ago
In the main event, Jared Cannonier takes on Caio Borralho in a pivotal middleweight clash. Cannonier, a seasoned striker with a reputation for explosive knockouts, will look to assert his dominance against the versatile Borralho, who brings a mix of striking and grappling skills into the octagon.

Jared "The Killa Gorilla" Cannonier

Age: 40 (March 16, 1984)

Record: 17-7

Recent Fights:

- Loss to Nassourdine Imavov (TKO, Punches) – UFC on ESPN 57, Jun 08, 2024
- Win against Marvin Vettori (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC on ESPN 47, Jun 17, 2023
- Win against Sean Strickland (Decision, Split) – UFC Fight Night 216, Dec 17, 2022
- Loss to Israel Adesanya (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC 276, Jul 02, 2022
- Win against Derek Brunson (KO, Elbows) – UFC 271, Feb 12, 2022

Caio "The Natural" Borralho

Age: 31 (January 16, 1993)

Record: 16-1-1

Recent Fights:

- Win against Paul Craig (KO, Punches) – UFC 301, May 04, 2024
- Win against Abusupiyan Magomedov (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC Fight Night 231, Nov 04, 2023
- Win against Michal Oleksiejczuk (Submission, Rear-Naked Choke) – UFC on ESPN 45, Apr 29, 2023
- Win against Makhmud Muradov (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC 280, Oct 22, 2022
- Win against Armen Petrosyan (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC on ESPN 39, Jul 09, 2022

Fight Analysis

Jared Cannonier is known for his striking power and explosive knockout ability. His striking game is primarily built around his power and ability to land devastating shots, especially with his elbows and punches. Cannonier’s cardio and grappling are decent but are not his primary weapons. At 40 years old, he may be experiencing a slight decline in his physical prime, but his experience and knockout power are still significant factors.

Caio Borralho is a well-rounded fighter with a solid mix of striking and grappling skills. His recent performances have demonstrated his ability to adapt and win through various methods, including decisions and submissions. Borralho’s size and reach advantage could be significant in this fight, as he is a bit taller and has a more well-rounded game compared to Cannonier’s focus on striking.

Prediction

Caio Borralho’s size, reach, and versatility make him a challenging opponent for Cannonier. While Cannonier’s knockout power is a constant threat, Borralho’s ability to mix up his game with both striking and grappling will likely give him an edge. If Borralho can avoid Cannonier’s power shots and use his reach advantage, he should be able to control the pace and potentially secure a victory through a combination of striking and grappling.

Caio Borralho wins via Decision. Borralho’s ability to control the fight with his reach, versatility, and well-rounded skills should give him the advantage over Cannonier’s striking power.