Caio Borralho vs Yousri Belgaroui UFC 334, Digi Mart USA News (New York): Caio Borralho is set to face rising middleweight contender Yousri Belgaroui in the main card of UFC 334, scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The bout puts Borralho in the opposite corner from his friend Alex Pereira, who trains Belgaroui at Glover Teixeira’s team in Danbury.
Speaking with MMA Fighting ahead of the event, Borralho said he sent Pereira a message as soon as the UFC booked the matchup. He said the two have trained together before, and that Pereira had invited him to train again, but that this would have to wait until after the fight.
Borralho added that he has great respect for Pereira, Teixeira and their team.
Borralho said Belgaroui is experienced enough not to be influenced by Pereira’s knowledge of Borralho’s game. He noted that Pereira has trained with him in striking, MMA sparring and ground work, and said he believes both fighters understand the challenge ahead.
Belgaroui is 3-0 in the UFC, with three knockout wins after joining the promotion through Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024. Borralho is 8-1 in the UFC and most recently defeated Reinier de Ridder.
Borralho said his first reaction to the fight was doubt, but he decided it was a challenge worth taking. He said he asked whether other opponents were available but was told no, and that he wants to face top competition.
He also said he has already faced strikers as strong as Belgaroui and that his own striking is built for MMA.
