Borralho Reveals Broken Rib Before De Ridder Win

Caio Borralho competed against Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 with a fractured rib, concealing the full extent of the injury from the promotion before stepping into the cage.

The Brazilian middleweight sustained the fracture a fortnight before the March event, per Sherdog. While he disclosed the injury to UFC officials, he downplayed its severity and proceeded to claim a unanimous decision over the former ONE Championship champion. Speaking to Stake, Borralho described the fortnight leading up to the bout as a psychological battle that tested whether he could reach the cage at all.

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Emergency Operation Pushed Back Borralho's Octagon Return

After the De Ridder victory, Borralho gave the rib 10 weeks to mend naturally. Persistent discomfort led him to get an MRI, which revealed the break had worsened rather than healed, requiring same-day emergency surgery. His inner circle—wife, four coaches, and training team—knew about the fracture before the fight, but he deliberately kept his parents in the dark to spare them additional worry.

The operation and recovery forced Borralho to scrap plans for an August return. He now faces Yousri Belgaroui on the November 14 UFC 334 card in New York at Madison Square Garden.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Caio Borralho says he hid broken rib from UFC, beat Reinier de Ridder