Caio Borralho is the UFC Vegas 72 fighter to watch
Caio Borralho is the UFC Vegas 72 fighter to watch.
Caio Borralho hasn't lost since 2015 and is 3-0 since joining the UFC coming off two performances on Dana White's Contender Series in 2021. This will be Barralho's third co-main event slot, and he will be going up against his biggest step up in competition yet, Michal Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk is on a two-fight winning streak since moving down to the middleweight division.
Brazil's Borralho was 8-1 before joining DWCS, winning his first fight against Aaron Jeffery and returning three weeks later to finish Jesse Murray and secure a UFC contract. Borralho had two fight cancelations before finally making his debut six months later against Gadzhi Omargadzhiev. Borralho would fight two more times in 2022, beating both Armen Petrosyan and Makhmud Muradov by decision, most recently at UFC 280.
Caio Borralho is quietly climbing the ranks of the middleweight division
Borralho will find his toughest challenge yet in the former light heavyweight Oleksiejczuk. Poland's Oleksiejczuk has been with the UFC since 2017, going 4-3 in the light heavyweight division against the likes of Khalil Rountree, Jr., Gian Villante, former title challenger Ovince Saint Preux, Jimmy Crute and Dustin Jacoby. Since moving down to middleweight last year, Oleksiejczuk is 2-0 with knockout wins over Sam Alvey and Cody Brundage, most recently at UFC Vegas 66 in December.
Borralho hasn't had the easiest path in his early UFC career, fighting out tough decisions against opponents whose record is 45-12 to his 13-1, and Oleksiejczuk will be no different as 13 of his 18 wins have come by way of finish. Borralho will hold a very slim height and reach advantage in a fight that will most likely stay on the feet for as long as it lasts, as both fighters favor the knockout. With a win against the veteran Oleksiejczuk, Borralho can propel himself to facing a ranked opponent next.
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