Yousri Belgaroui came to UFC 334 on Saturday night looking to put Caio Borralho through a kickboxing nightmare.
Unfortunately for the Dutch striker, Borralho had other plans involving takedowns, body triangles, and making life absolutely miserable. Belgaroui brought the dangerous knees and heavy strikes, but Borralho kept dragging him into deep water with relentless wrestling. Even when both fighters were running on fumes, the Brazilian found enough energy to secure another crucial takedown. By the final horn, Borralho had survived Belgaroui’s striking and walked away with a hard-earned victory.
Round 1 – Borralho marched straight to the center of the cage, while Belgaroui circled around looking for an opening. Borralho quickly closed the distance and connected with a left hand, but Belgaroui answered with a sharp calf kick. Borralho immediately changed levels and drove Belgaroui against the fence, looking to take the fight to the ground. The Brazilian had clearly decided that standing around trading kicks with Belgaroui wasn’t the smartest business decision.
Borralho eventually worked his way to Belgaroui’s back and dragged him to the canvas. Belgaroui desperately tried using the fence to escape, but Borralho quickly turned himself into a human backpack. The Brazilian locked in a tight body triangle and started hunting for the rear-naked choke. Borralho managed to get his arm across Belgaroui’s face, but the choke was stuck on the jaw.
Belgaroui fought off the choking arm, temporarily escaping the submission threat. Unfortunately for him, Borralho was being an absolute bully with his grappling. Every time Belgaroui defended one attack, Borralho immediately started working on another. With the body triangle firmly locked in, Borralho had all the time he needed to make Belgaroui miserable.
Borralho eventually transitioned to a guillotine choke as Belgaroui worked his way back to one knee. Belgaroui continued fighting to stand, but Borralho maintained control of his head. The Brazilian was making Belgaroui earn every inch of freedom, refusing to give up the position without a fight.
As Belgaroui started getting back to his feet, Borralho seized another opportunity to attack. He connected with a couple of knees to the head while Belgaroui was rising, forcing him back toward the canvas. Belgaroui eventually freed his head from danger and worked his way back to his feet. After spending much of the round dealing with Borralho’s grappling, Belgaroui finally had room to throw some strikes.
Belgaroui immediately went to work, attacking Borralho’s legs before driving a knee into his stomach. The Dutch striker started picking up the pace, looking to make up for the time spent fighting off submissions. Borralho had controlled much of the round, but Belgaroui was finally getting an opportunity to showcase his striking.
With the clock winding down, Belgaroui pressed forward and started chasing Borralho around the Octagon. He managed to connect with a couple of shots before the horn sounded, closing out a grappling-heavy opening round.
Round 2 – Belgaroui came out for the second round looking to turn up the heat, immediately chasing Borralho around the Octagon. Belgaroui started throwing strikes, forcing Borralho to deal with his relentless pressure. However, the moment Belgaroui threw a knee and brought his foot back down, Borralho saw his opportunity. The Brazilian immediately shot for a takedown, driving Belgaroui against the fence. Belgaroui fought off the attempt, making Borralho work overtime to get the fight back to the canvas.
Borralho started mixing in punches before closing the distance and forcing Belgaroui into another clinch against the cage. The Brazilian was determined to turn this kickboxing match into a wrestling competition, whether Belgaroui liked it or not. Borralho eventually worked his way to Belgaroui’s back and started looking to drag him down. However, Belgaroui broke Borralho’s grips, turned to face him, and escaped before the Brazilian could finish the takedown.
Belgaroui immediately went back to hunting Borralho, pressing forward and looking to land something big. This time, Borralho stood his ground and traded strikes instead of constantly retreating. The two exchanged on the feet for a while before Borralho decided he’d had enough of the kickboxing lesson. He changed levels and shot for another takedown, but Belgaroui greeted him with a knee to the body.
The two fighters ended up battling for position against the fence, with Borralho continuing to hunt for the takedown. Belgaroui desperately tried defending the position, eventually grabbing the cage to prevent Borralho from dragging him down. The referee immediately slapped Belgaroui’s hand away, making it clear that the fence wasn’t available as a third teammate.
With Belgaroui’s grip broken, Borralho finally completed the takedown and planted him on the canvas. The Brazilian immediately advanced into side control, putting Belgaroui right back into the grappling nightmare he’d spent the round escaping. Belgaroui had enjoyed some success with his striking, but Borralho was once again making him fight on his terms.
Round 3 – Belgaroui came out looking to put the pressure on Borralho, but the Brazilian had other plans. Borralho immediately changed levels, secured another takedown, and drove Belgaroui toward the fence. Belgaroui managed to scramble free, but Borralho was content to slow things down and wait for another opening.
Belgaroui eventually found an opening of his own, connecting with a beautiful knee directly to Borralho’s jaw. The shot landed clean, but Borralho immediately fired back with a nasty punch that caught Belgaroui flush. Suddenly, both fighters were standing in the middle of the Octagon trading heavy leather.
The two went toe-to-toe, exchanging punches like neither had anything left to lose. Earlier in the fight, this kind of exchange would have heavily favored Belgaroui and his dangerous kickboxing arsenal. However, both fighters were running on fumes, and their gas tanks were looking like they needed roadside assistance.
Belgaroui continued throwing, but Borralho was more than willing to answer with shots of his own. Neither fighter had much energy left, turning the final round into a battle of exhaustion and determination. At this point, technique was sharing the spotlight with whoever could survive the final minutes.
With just under a minute remaining, Borralho decided it was time to return to what had worked all fight. The Brazilian changed levels, shot for another takedown, and successfully dragged Belgaroui back to the canvas. After spending much of the fight forcing Belgaroui to defend his wrestling, Borralho had secured another crucial takedown.
Belgaroui may have been confident going into the fight, but it was Borralho that got the last laugh and the victory.
Official Result: Caio Borralho def. Yousri Belgaroui via Unanimous Decision (30-27×3)