Borralho Calls For Top-10 Opponent At UFC 334

Caio Borralho is cleared to fight again and wants a top-10 middleweight at UFC 334 in New York on November 14.

The Brazilian middleweight told MMA Fighting that he is nearly fully recovered from the rib surgery that forced him out of a planned fight with Joe Pyfer at UFC 330. Borralho said he is doing full training now and expects to be ready for a fight camp in three to four weeks. "I think I'm around 90 to 95 percent, but I'm full training right now," he said. "I'm doing everything, doing grappling, wrestling, striking and everything."

Borralho's Path To A Middleweight Title Shot

Borralho, who holds an 8-1 record in the UFC, believes he is one or two wins away from challenging for the middleweight belt. He is coming off a March victory over Reinier de Ridder, which snapped a decision loss to Nassourdine Imavov. The 28-year-old said he is open to fighting anyone in the top 10, including Pyfer, who recently stopped former champion Israel Adesanya to extend his winning streak to four. "I just need to make sense for me, for the company, and for the division," Borralho said.

The middleweight title picture remains unsettled after Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in May to claim the belt. Borralho, who has trained with both fighters, said he was surprised Chimaev chose to stand and trade with Strickland rather than relying on his wrestling. He believes Imavov deserves the next title shot over a Chimaev rematch, though Pyfer and Brendan Allen are also in the mix.

Borralho said the injury layoff gave him a chance to work on improvements and take care of his body after fighting consistently since joining the UFC in 2021.

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• MMA Fighting — Caio Borralho calls for top-10 opponent at UFC 334, believes he’s ‘one or two’ wins away from title shot