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UFC Middleweight Doesn’t Give Dricus Du Plessis A Chance Against Alex Pereira: ‘He Can Beat DDP Easily’

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is set to return at UFC 312 next month where he will put the title on the line for a second time. “Stillknocks” certainly isn’t short on contenders at 185-pounds even when looking past his next challenge, a rematch with Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia. However, there is always […]

However, there is always going to be talk and debate around champions moving up or down a weight class to face another titleholder in the promotion and this is something that has interested Du Plessis in the past. It also just so happens that the current champion in the division above him is the former middleweight king also.

Many fans expect to see Alex Pereira defend the light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev in his next outing inside the Octagon. The only exception might be that because “Poatan” has become such a star for the promotion, they could look to capitalize on putting together a super fight for the Brazilian.

Middleweight contender Caio Borralho recently trained alongside Pereira and used that experience to weigh-in on how a potential matchup between him and Du Plessis would play out if they end up meeting at some stage. He told Submission Radio that whilst the debate would change if you factor Khamzat Chimaev into the conversation, he believes that Pereira would be a tough style clash for “DDP”.

“I think he can beat DDP easily,” Borralho told Submission Radio. “I think very easily he can beat DDP. I think Khamzat (Chimaev) is a different story because of the grappling, but ‘Poatan’ is definitely getting better at defending takedowns. He’s a big guy, very big guy. It would be hard for Khamzat to keep him down.

“He made a good choice moving up to the light heavyweight division. … I think he can knock DDP out really easily because DDP commits a lot of mistakes in his fights and a lot of openings,” Borralho said. “If you leave even a small opening with a guy like Alex, you’re going to get knocked out.”

UFC’s Caio Borralho on the Key to Success: ‘I’ll Be a Forever White Belt’

UFC's Caio Borralho on the Key to Success: ‘I’ll Be a Forever White Belt' Rising middleweight contender Caio Borralho believes the key to his success has been to always remain a white belt….

Rising middleweight contender Caio Borralho believes the key to his success has been to always remain a white belt.

Of course, Borralho is a black belt in BJJ and even a former national judo champion, but mentally, ‘The Natural’ believes it’s important to always continue learning, no matter how experienced one becomes in a specific art.

“You are like a forever white belt, you know? Sometimes people think they’re already black belts, and they stop learning in this process,” Borralho said during an appearance on Submission Radio. “I don’t want this to happen to me, so I’ve been searching for the best training.”

It seems as though Borralho’s approach has been working quite well. Thus far, he is 7-0 inside the Octagon with his biggest wins coming against Arman Petrosyan, Paul Craig, and most recently, Jared Cannonier. Those victories have thrust the Brazilian into the No. 6 spot in the middleweight rankings and potentially one impressive showing away from his first UFC title opportunity.

Caio Borralho reveals why his rumored fight with Israel Adesanya never materialized

After his decision victory over Cannonier, Borralho was hoping to bag himself a big fight with former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya. Unfortunately, ‘The Last Stylebender’ chose to throw hands with Nassourdine Imavov who sits one spot higher on the middleweight rankings than Borralho.

“I think the UFC offered Izzy two fights: me or Imavov,” Borralho said on the Overdogs Podcast. “And then, he suddenly posted a clip studying Imavov’s tape, and I was like, ‘Come on, bro.’ I sent a message to Izzy, and was like, ‘Bro, why you choosing that?’

“He was like, ‘Bro, we’re going to fight next year. We’re going to dance next year for the belt.’ It’s OK, I respect you if you choose that. I think he chose right. I think Imavov is a better fight for him, and I think Izzy is the favorite in this fight.”

There’s always the chance that Borralho could be matched up with fourth-ranked contender Robert Whittaker in 2025, or even face the winner of face the winner of Adesanya vs. Imavov.

Either way, ‘The Natural’ will look to make the biggest statement possible in his next outing and establish himself as a legitimate contender to the coveted middleweight crown.

Caio Borralho: Alex Pereira Would Easily Knock Out Dricus Du Plessis

Caio Borralho doesn’t think Dricus Du Plessis would stand a chance against Alex Pereira. Du Plessis, the UFC’s reigning…

Caio Borralho doesn’t think Dricus Du Plessis would stand a chance against Alex Pereira.

Du Plessis, the UFC’s reigning middleweight world champion, already has a pretty full 2025. Aside from his scheduled rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 on February 8, ‘DDP’ will also be tasked with taking out undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev, should he go two-up on ‘Tarzan’ next month.

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However, that hasn’t stopped rumors of his potential move up to light heavyweight for a shot at champ-champ status against 205’s top dog, Alex Pereira.

As intriguing as that fight sounds, rising 185-pound contender Caio Borralho is confident that ‘Poatan’ would easily pick apart Du Plessis’ unorthodox style should the two ever meet inside the Octagon.

“I think he can knock DDP out really easily, ’cause DDP makes a lot of mistakes in his fights, you know? A lot of openings and all that,” Borralho said during an appearance on Submission Radio. “And if you leave even a small opening with a guy like Alex, you know, I think you’re gonna get knocked out.”

Magomed Ankalaev is likely next for Alex Pereira

After defending his light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring a trio of earth-shattering knockouts against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree, Alex Pereira has not yet booked his first bout of 2025. However, all signs indicate he will square off with the division’s top-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev.

Even if ‘Poatan’ recently dismissed him as the next man in line.

Meanwhile, ‘DDP’ will look to land another win over Sean Strickland next month after snatching away the middleweight title from the outspoken American last January via a closely contested split decision victory.

Are you at all interested in a superfight between Du Plessis and Pereira, or should both fighters stay in their respective lanes?

Caio Borralho Describes the Fear of Facing Alex Pereira: ‘Trading Punches with Him Is Terrifying’

Brazilian UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho recently opened up about his experience sparring with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex…

Brazilian UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho recently opened up about his experience sparring with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira. Known for his devastating knockout power and elite striking, Pereira has earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport.

Caio Borralho Trains with Alex Pereira

The knockout power is something Caio Borralho experienced firsthand during their training sessions. In a candid interview with Submission Radio, Borralho described Pereira as a “nerd of the game,” highlighting his knowledge of striking and his improving grappling skills. He explained:

“Alex is a nerd of the game, you know? He’s a guy with a lot of knowledge, definitely about the striking game, and I think he’s getting really better and better in the grappling game.”

Caio Borralho admitted:

“I already imagine it’s going to be a scary thing, you know? It’s definitely a scary position to be in front of him and trading punches with him.”

Despite the challenges, Borralho embraced the opportunity, “That’s the way that I get better, you know? So, definitely great training with him.”

He noted that the sessions were tough but productive, with both fighters benefiting from the experience. The collaboration between Caio Borralho and Alex Pereira has drawn attention from MMA fans and analysts alike, given their respective ranks and potential future matchups. While Borralho continues his rise in the middleweight division, Alex Pereira remains dominant at light heavyweight after a stellar 2024 campaign.

Caio Borralho had a breakout year in 2024, with impressive wins in the middleweight division against Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier to round out his record to 17-1 overall. He has no future bouts booked but he will likely be facing a top-five middleweight opponent.

“So, definitely great training with him. I think we are going to train a lot together. It was a good environment. It was good, tough training, and I think we both got better from this training.”

Caio Borralho Reveals Message From Israel Adesanya About 2025 Fight

Following his win over Jared Cannonier in August, Caio Borralho has been waiting on a huge fight for his next outing. The #6-ranked middleweight has won seven fights in a row since debuting in the Octagon in April of 2022. It appeared for a brief moment that the Brazilian might be being lined-up for arguably […]

It appeared for a brief moment that the Brazilian might be being lined-up for arguably the biggest fight in the division outside of fighting for the title. He had expressed interest in facing former champion Israel Adesanya following his loss at UFC 305 and it seemed like this option was being presented to “The Last Stylebender”.

Several months later it was announced that Adesanya will be headlining the UFC’s return to Saudi Arabia on February 1 but it will be against the contender that is one spot higher than Borralho in the rankings, France’s Nassourdine Imavov. During a recent appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, the Fighting Nerds stand out spoke about this fight and gave his thoughts on how it all played out.

“I think the UFC offered Izzy two fights: me or Imavov,” Borralho said on the Overdogs Podcast. “And then, he suddenly posted a clip studying Imavov’s tape, and I was like, ‘Come on, bro.’ I sent a message to Izzy, and was like, ‘Bro, why you choosing that?’

“He was like, ‘Bro, we’re going to fight next year. We’re going to dance next year for the belt.’ It’s OK, I respect you if you choose that. I think he chose right. I think Imavov is a better fight for him, and I think Izzy is the favorite in this fight.”

Adesanya said a similar thing during a recent YouTube video where he said that though Imavov was the only name that he was offered, Borralho was a name on his radar that he would have accepted if this fight was presented instead. “The Last Stylebender” referenced the message that he sent him, saying that he respects Borralho for wanting to test himself.

Borralho also weighed in with his thoughts on the fight that has been booked for February 1, giving the former champion an advantage when it comes to the five-round duration.

“Imavov, I think he’s good and all that, but I don’t think he has the cardio for five rounds,” Borralho said. “I don’t think he has the best mentality for five rounds. He gets frustrated a lot into the fight, and he fought a three-round fight with Brendan Allen in Paris and it was like a boring fight.

“They were tired since the first round, and I think if he does the same thing with Izzy, Izzy is going to pick him apart. I think he’s good at fighting guys that are shorter than him. I don’t think he’s good when he’s fighting guys who are taller than him.”

Henry Cejudo Ranks The Stand Out Brazilian Stars From The Fighting Nerds

The Fighting Nerds team out of Brazil has been one of the most exciting stables of fighters to really announce their arrival in 2024. With one fighter signing to the UFC several years ago and proving himself to be a top contender in his division, three other stand outs have made huge impacts inside the […]

With an overall record of 11-0 with nine finishes in the UFC this year, Henry Cejudo recently ranked the four Fighting Nerds competitors that have put their team on the map. Unsurprisingly, he gave top billing to the squad’s unofficial team captain, Caio Borralho.

Borralho has won seven fights in a row at middleweight to earn himself the #6-ranking with wins over the likes of Jared Cannonier, Paul Craig and Abus Magomedov setting him up for a huge match-up next time out. Cejudo has been particularly impressed with his wrestling and consistency.

“I got to go with Borralho. His takedown entries are no joke. I wasn’t too sure if he was going to get tired but man, he’s special so I think he’s the first one to lead. Other than him being the first one to lead, I’m going to have to go with Jean Silva.”

Since producing an upset on Contender Series, Silva has won three fights in a row this year at both featherweight and lightweight. His latest win over Drew Dober earned him a performance of the night bonus and though Cejudo wants to see him, and the following names, get tested against a high-level wrestler, he’s very impressed with what he has seen thus far.

A fighter that will certainly be in the conversation for breakthrough fighter of the year is Carlos Prates who has finished all four of his opponents this year. A first round knockout against Neil Magny in his first main event at the start of this month saw him enter the welterweight rankings at #13.

“He’s one that I really want to know how good he really is and I do want to see him get tested in that wrestling department. Does Carlos Prates have that threshold of having somebody like a Shavkat or somebody that’s going to wrestle, a Kamaru Usman, someone that’s going to bring that heavy wrestling feel. How is it that he can handle all of that?”

Last but not least is the member of the four who fought the most recently, Mauricio Ruffy. A spectacular debut against Jamie Mullarkey opened his UFC account in style but his performance at UFC 309 where he faced James Llontop wasn’t as impressive after he secured a decision win as a massive favorite coming in.

“He just fought this weekend. Very creative, very dangerous on what he does and I do feel like he is special.”