UFC 301 is just around the corner, and one fighter appearing in the event is the middleweight sensation Caio Borralho. The Brazilian will be taking on Scottish fighter Paul Craig for the first time in his career. A win for both fighters will help them improve their ranking in the division.
As we inch closer to the fight, we take a look at the support system working behind the Brazilian. “The Natural” is currently on a five-fight winning streak and has impressed one and all with his performances. But what is the reason for his success? Let us find out.
A closer look at Caio Borralho’s coaches and teammates
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31-year-old Caio Borralho is without a doubt one of the most competent fighters in the division. The Brazilian has faced some big names in the division but is yet to be defeated in the UFC. His impressive performance is a testament to his incredible work ethic and a fantastic team working behind him. Borralho is currently the #14 ranked fighter in the middleweight division and hones his skills under the watchful eyes of Pablo Sucupira and Flavio Alvarao. Sucupira and ‘The Natural’ have been working together for a long time now at the Fighting Nerds.
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He began his MMA career in 2014, but he always liked the sport from a very young age. He has a black belt in Muay Thai, a brown belt in Judo, and later a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. During his early years, the unbeaten Brazilian also had an inclination towards studies. He has a degree in Industrial Chemistry from Federal University in Maranhao. His degree propelled him to name his gym “Fighting Nerds.” Supuria played a very important role in helping him recover from his first loss. The Brazilian is a true student of the sport and constantly looks at fights to help him improve his game.
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During one of his interviews last year he highlighted the importance of Supuria. The 31-year-old said, ” I originally thought I could be world champ with simply good judo and jiu-jitsu. I didn’t spend time on my standup. In that loss, I realized how I needed to get used to standing up. I was afraid to strike. I’d try to grapple immediately. My coach, Pablo Sucupira, told me to forget MMA for one year and only work on my standup – boxing, kickboxing, and muay thai. I fought almost 30 standup bouts in about a year and a half. It was only after that, that I returned to MMA and felt comfortable enough to continue my quest.” He also has some fantastic teammates who help him prepare for the fight. Let us take a look at some of his training partners.
Who are the training partners of Caio Borralho?
Professional MMA fighters are some of the most conditioned athletes in the world. However, they still need competitive sparring sessions to help them prepare for the fight. Therefore, training partners play a very vital role during the preparation phase. Borralho in that aspect has been very fortunate enough, as he has trained with some of the best in the business. One of his biggest strengths is his Jiu-Jitsu and his partner Demian Maia helps him hone his skills.
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During one of his interviews, he pointed out one of the toughest training partners he has ever faced. He said, “For sure the hardest guy to train is Khamzat [Chimaev],” Borralho answered. “He’s a very hard guy to train [with]. His style, his wrestling background, he’s very good wrestling. He goes hard all the rounds. I think he’s one of the hardest training to do, you know?”. He also has Carlos Prates, Jean Silva, and Mauricio Ruffy on his team, which helps him in his preparations.
The Brazilian will definitely be the crowd favorite when he enters the Octagon at UFC 301. However, he will have to be at his best to keep his winning streak going. Do you think he will win the fight? Let us know in the comments below.