UFC 326: Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder Preview & Prediction
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Middleweights square off in the co-main event of the evening, with top contenders, Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder, looking to rebound following disappointing results in their most recent appearances.
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder facts
What time are Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 326
What TV channel is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 main card
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira (Lightweight)
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)
Rob Font vs Raul Rosas Jr. (Bantamweight)
Drew Dober vs Michael Johnson (Lightweight)
Gregory Rodrigues vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 prelims
Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long (Bantamweight)
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
Ricky Turcios vs Alberto Montes (Featherweight)
Cody Durden vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Flyweight)
Su Mudaerji vs Jesus Santos Aguilar (Flyweight)
Rafael Tobias vs Diyar Nurgozhay (Light Heavyweight)
Lee Jeong-yeong vs Gaston Bolanos (Featherweight)
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight)
Caio Borralho: "The Natural" aims to rebound after suffering his first loss in the UFC last time out
One of the more well-rounded athletes at 185 pounds, Caio Borralho (17-2, 1 NC) looks to reinsert his name into title contention after a disappointing loss to Nassourdine Imavov in his last appearance, a result that marked the Fighting Nerds’ captain’s first loss in the promotion after a 7-0 start to his UFC tenure. A strong wrestler and jiu-jitsu practitioner, “The Natural’s” striking continues to improve with every subsequent appearance, while Borralho is also known for a granite chin and an excellent gas tank. While the loss to Imavov may well have highlighted his ceiling in terms of UFC success, it will be fascinating to see how the Brazilian responds to his first defeat in more than a decade.
Reinier de Ridder: "RDR" looks to regain momentum after a devastating loss in his most recent appearance
A 4-0 run to start his UFC career had many labelling former ONE Championship champion, Reinier de Ridder (21-3), as the next title threat at 185 pounds. Unfortunately for “RDR,” the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion in his fifth appearance against Brendan Allen; after a strong start, de Ridder gassed out and quit on his stool in the fourth round after a prolonged beatdown from “All In.” An enormous fighter for the weight class, de Ridder’s bread and butter has always been his grappling. However, he’s notably improved his stand up since joining the promotion, adding nasty knees to the body into his striking repertoire to great success against the likes of Bo Nickal and Robert Whittaker.
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder prediction
This is an incredibly difficult fight to pick.
It's tempting to go with de Ridder here. "RDR" is an enormous middleweight and could find success if he can drag this one to the mat or into the clinch for extended periods of time to wear on Borralho. His best win in the promotion over Robert Whittaker arguably trumps the Brazilian's most impressive victory over Jared Cannonier, while he's likely to show up to this one with improved cardio following his disastrous showing against Brendan Allen.
However, it's his stand up that gives cause for concern. Borralho isn't as good on the ground as the Dutchman but he's got a much bigger edge when it comes to the striking. de Ridder's success with knees against Whittaker and Nickal have distracted many from the fact that he's always been extremely limited on the feet; in a straight kickboxing fight, he's throwing goofy strikes, barely moving his head, and meandering awkwardly into striking range with his chin exposed. Borralho may have come up short against Nassourdine Imavov last time out, but he also hung tough on the feet for five rounds against one of the best strikers in the entire division.
Furthermore, "The Natural" is renowned for having an excellent gas tank and de Ridder looked like a broken man after running out of juice against Brendan Allen; he also has history with mentally checking out in tough spots from his time in ONE Championship. As such, it's easy to envision a reality where "RDR" exhausts himself in trying to get the action to the ground and proceeds to get pieced up by Borralho at range.
Prediction: Caio Borralho to win by decision
