UFC’s middleweight title image could look fairly totally different within the coming months as a lot of the key gamers within the division compete to enter — or re-enter — the dialog for a shot on the belt. One rising contender, Caio Borralho, sees main adjustments on the horizon.
Dricus du Plessis defends his title Saturday in opposition to two-time champion Israel Adesanya in the primary occasion of UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. Du Plessis is undefeated contained in the octagon and just lately claimed the belt from Sean Strickland, who dethroned Adesanya in 2023.
Strickland, ranked No. 2 within the MMA Preventing International Rankings, is the only real top-ranked middleweight presently not booked. Robert Whittaker, No. 4, faces Khamzat Chimaev, No. 11, within the co-main occasion of UFC 308 on Oct. 26. UFC Paris, scheduled for Sept. 28, is headlined by Nassourdine Imavov (No. 5) vs. Brendan Allen (No. 9), whereas No. 7 Jared Cannonier battles the unranked Borralho in a five-round principal occasion on Aug. 24.
Trying atop the mountain, Borralho foresees Adesanya dethroning du Plessis.
“I believe Adesanya wins,” Borralho advised MMA Preventing. “It’s not a great matchup [for du Plessis]. Du Plessis walks ahead and explodes together with his assaults, whereas Adesanya strikes extra laterally. I don’t assume Adesanya will battle that a lot within the first spherical after which he’ll begin to join. I believe Adesanya wins by third-round knockout, or it’s a choice.”
“The division is all combined up,” Borralho added. “I don’t know if Chimaev will get a title shot or something like that if he wins in opposition to Whittaker, I don’t know if that might be honest. I believe Brendan Allen is nearer as a result of he has the longest profitable streak at middleweight as we speak and he’s preventing Imavov in Paris. I believe he’s positively the following contender if he wins.”
Allen has received seven straight UFC bouts, together with finishes of Paul Craig, Andre Muniz, and Bruno Silva previous to a latest cut up choice over Chris Curtis. Imavov, however, headlines a card with dwelling subject benefit after a controversial stoppage of Cannonier in his most up-to-date look and a majority choice in opposition to Roman Dolidze earlier this yr.
“Imavov is hard and stuffed with surprises,” Borralho mentioned. “He throws elbows and knees out of nowhere. He’s tall and has a protracted attain, he’s sort of full, however I believe Brendan Allen is extra stable and is having a great second [in his career]. He has good jiu-jitsu. Imavov additionally has good jiu-jitsu, however Brendan Allen is healthier. And Brendan Allen does the fundamentals effectively on the toes, he can safe some good takedowns, so I believe he wins.”
Strickland was victorious by way of cut up choice in his most up-to-date bout in opposition to Paulo Costa and mentioned he would wait “so long as it takes” to get his shot on the gold, exhibiting no real interest in preventing Whittaker. On the hand, Whittaker is staying lively by going through Chimaev, and Borralho is curious to see what occurs in that five-round conflict. Chimaev hasn’t fought since profitable majority choice over late-notice substitute Kamaru Usman in October 2023, whereas Whittaker dismantled Ikram Aliskerov with a fast first-round knockout this previous June.
“I believe it’s a tough battle for Whittaker as a result of he doesn’t know what to anticipate from Chimaev’s wrestling,” Borralho mentioned. “Once you really feel the extent of wrestling he has, the strain, it’s a bit spectacular. I’ve educated with him and I do know the extent he has, I do know what to anticipate if this battle occurs in the future. The loopy factor about preventing him is that you just don’t know what to anticipate. I don’t assume Whittaker has anybody who can mimic half of that wrestling in his camp, so I believe Chimaev wins. Being a five-round battle, if Whittaker can survive the primary and second rounds, possibly the fights will get higher for him, however I nonetheless assume Chimaev wins.”
Borralho hopes to inject his title into the dialog with a win over Cannonier. One other victory would increase his UFC profitable streak to seven straight following previous victories over the likes of Craig, Abus Magomedov, Michal Oleksiejczuk, and Makhmud Muradov.
“All of it depends upon how these fights go,” Borralho mentioned. “If all of them win by way of choice, and one in every of them will get the knockout, he could be the following [contender], and that’s why I believe a knockout or a submission [against Cannonier] would possibly put me as the following contender. I’ll be prepared for something the UFC says, as at all times. I’ll stroll the toughest highway and do the fights the UFC asks.
“I’ll level at my waist and ask for my belt after I knock out Cannonier, I’ll present the champion has arrived. However I’ll be prepared. If there’s a short-notice battle, something like that, I’ll be prepared for the belt.”