Nick Peet | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Borralho

COMPELLING Brazilian middleweight Caio Borralho faces the sternest test of his UFC career so far when he takes on #5 ranked Jared Cannonier at the Apex on Saturday night.

The UFC has come under fire following a succession of third tier main events at their behind closed doors Las Vegas venue, but no fight fan is complaining ahead of this top five contender match-up.

Lining up two of the biggest, best and most fan-friendly middleweights for a five-round main event is a can’t-miss recipe for destruction.

THE KILLA GORILLA

Texan Cannonier, 40, started his career up at heavyweight, but has found his optimum fighting category as a middleweight, even challenging for UFC gold two years ago.

‘The Killa Gorilla’ fell short against Israel Adesanya, losing on points over five rounds, but that was only his second defeat in a run of nine fights after moving to 185lb.

Wins over former champions Anderson Silva and, more recently, Sean Strickland have ensured the Alaska-based finisher has remained one of the main protagonists in the weight class.

"THERE'S YOUR STATEMENT MADE" ✅Jared Cannonier makes the final walk of the night Saturday at #UFCVegas96! pic.twitter.com/fYYx6VBOhO

— UFC (@ufc) August 19, 2024

With big power to match his big frame, plus an established and cultured BJJ base, former air traffic controller Cannonier keeps a cool head inside the Octagon.

THE NATURAL

Whilst the American has been in the mix at the top of the weight class for some time, Borralho is very much the new, emerging star at 185lb.

The 31-year-old Brazilian is the unofficial captain of Sao Paulo’s Fighting Nerds team, who have really broken through in the last 18 months, and he has quickly amassed global fan following.

After a first round TKO on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, he returned to middleweight for his full UFC debut in the spring of 2022 and has clocked six wins in the Octagon since.

Caio Borralho is the best prospect at Middleweight, in my opinion. Since entering the UFC, he’s 6-0 w/ 2 finishes – with an extremely impressive strength of schedule.With a win over Cannonier this weekend, I believe he should be given a Title Eliminator vs the winner of… pic.twitter.com/hSEtqLccYG

— I AM SATURDAY (@I_AM_SATURDAY) August 20, 2024

In May, he secured the biggest win of his tenure so far, knocking out Scotland’s highly-ranked Paul Craig in two rounds in Rio de Janeiro.

Unbeaten since his second pro fight, way back in 2015, Borralho is riding a 15-fight win streak thanks to a solid Muay Thai and judo base. He’s both a power striker and a formidable grappler.

TOP FIVE SPOT

Cannonier was withing touching distance of a second title chance at the start of the year, but a controversial stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imamov in Louisville in June hit him hard.

He does have the edge in power, though. His 17-7 record features 12 early finishes, 10 by knockout. But he’s only scored one finish in almost five years of action.

Despite the standard of the competition and being let down by an official, he’s still 4-3 in his last seven fights. A tough habit to kick for a prizefighter in his forties.

Almost 10 years junior, #12 ranked Borralho has stopped two of his last three inside the Octagon and steps up to headliner for the first time in a familiar venue.

Cannonier needs to push for deep waters, drown the Brazilian in the championship rounds.

But it will count for nothing if Borralho’s able to use his speed and creativity to bank rounds early and coast to success.

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