Is the UFC middleweight division’s loss the light heavyweight division’s gain? The 185 lbs division has been a lot noisier since Alex Pereira won the title. Israel Adesanya‘s dominance ended after he dropped the title to ‘Poatan,’ regained it in a rematch, and then dropped it to Sean Strickland later. Between November 2022 and November 2024, the division has seen four different champions. With this level of activity comes the clamor for rematches; they cost up and coming contenders their due shots at the higher rankings and the title, and it seems to be forcing the middleweights to take a drastic step.

Not too long ago, Robert Whittaker revealed that he had thought about a move to the light heavyweight division. And now, Caio Borralho has sent shockwaves through the fighting community with the declaration of a plan to move on to the higher-weight class. With Alex Pereira ruling the light heavyweight realm, it surely wouldn’t be easy for ‘The Natural’ to get to the belt. But why is he thinking of moving up?

Taking to X, the #6 UFC middleweight contender revealed his desire to fight in the light heavyweight division. The strength and skills that he carries have indeed resulted in him having 17 victories with just one single loss. And that might just pose a big problem for the ‘Poatan’. Borralho wrote, “It seems that the middleweight division is to messy right now. What u guys think about going up to light heavyweight and a top 15 guy?” He is an undefeated contender with a 16-fight win streak in the MW category. No wonder he wished to position himself in the top 15 list in another division, than stay in one that has been stirring up the fight promotion. 

Unlike the middleweight division, the light heavyweight division has a pretty decent hierarchy with the ‘Poatan’ at the top of the list. ‘The Natural’ can certainly kickstart his journey as a light heavyweight with a fight against #10 LHW Johnny Walker, the #11 ranked Dominick Reyes, or even Alonzo Menifield. However, climbing to the top may not be easy for Brazilian.

Besides, Pereira is knocking everyone out left and right. His only real challenge in the top 5 right now is Magomed Ankalaev and that fight does not seem to be enticing the UFC much. Contenders like Borralho and Whittaker moving up would mean more activity among the LHW elites.

As far as the light heavyweight champion is concerned, the fight fans often paired him up against Magomed Ankalaev. However, Alex Pereira doesn’t want to fight Ankalaev. Taking to X, the man with the hands of stone claimed, “It won’t be Ankalaev!” And this provoked the Russian fighter. He lashed out at the ‘Poatan’ with a single-word insult “Chicken”. And if Borralho wants to fight for the LHW belt, he would have to go through a few rankers and make his stance known in the top 15 LHW list first. Nevertheless, Borralho has a plan. Not too long ago, ‘The Natural’ revealed that he wanted to fight one of the strongest middleweights in the UFC. Let’s find out if Borralho’s next fight will indeed be in the LHW category.

Is Caio Borralho left without an opponent?

‘The Natural’ had recently disclosed that he would fight the former 2-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya next. In a conversation with MMA Junkie, Borralho revealed that the fight might go down at UFC 312, in Sydney. The Brazilian fighter said, “I want to fight Izzy. We are in talks with UFC, but nothing confirmed yet. But that’s the fight we want. I think that’s the fight that makes sense.” Well, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has already fought almost everyone in the top 5 list from the middleweight realm. Borralho claimed that the only ones left for Adesanya were him and Nassourdine Imavov. He continued, “But Imavov didn’t (have) a good fight last time, so I think they’re thinking about me. Let’s see what the UFC wants.” But Dana White and Co. had other plans.

Adesanya had already found an opponent in Imavov. And it seems like he was the only one offered to him. When Borralho asked him about it, ‘Stylebender’ replied, “I was like bro. I already told you when it’s you and me, it will be for the belt. It will be for the throne. So I respect a guy who just wants to be strictly business. It’s like I understand it. It’s what I call Goku spirit. It’s like oh you fight? How good are you? Alright bet, let’s see. So yeah, I respect that. But the Imavov fight came about and yeah, we’re here.”

Had the UFC offered Adesanya a fight against ‘The Natural’, he would have certainly taken up the fight. But with the former MW champ set to fight Imavov, Borralho is left without an option. This means a move to the heavier weight class is the right thing to do. The only question that now remains is whether he would get to fight a top 15 fighter in the light heavyweight realm. 

What do you think of Borralho’s decision to move to the light heavyweight division? Do you think he can get a fight against the ‘Poatan’ at the LHW division? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.