Table of Content
UFC 334 features a crucial middleweight showdown on the main card between fifth-ranked contender Caio Borralho and towering kickboxer Yousri Belgaroui. The event showcases a clash of styles as the grappling-heavy Brazilian meets a dangerous Dutch-Tunisian striker.
Fighter Backgrounds and Odds
Caio Borralho enters the matchup with an 18-2 record and one no-contest. He rebounded at UFC 326 in March by defeating Reinier de Ridder via unanimous decision, which followed his first UFC loss to Nassourdine Imavov that ended a seven-fight win streak. Meanwhile, Yousri Belgaroui holds an 11-3 record and carries a three-fight knockout streak into the weekend following his arrival from the Contender Series. In his recent UFC bouts, he stopped Azamat Bekoev with third-round punches and knocked out Mansur Abdul-Malik with a third-round knee.
DraftKings lists Caio Borralho as the -162 favorite, while Yousri Belgaroui sits as the +136 underdog. The over/under for total rounds is set at 2.5, with the over favored at -238 and the under at +180.
Why Caio Borralho Can Win
Caio Borralho brings a significant grappling advantage and high fight IQ to this middleweight contest. Representing the Fighting Nerds camp, Borralho specializes in exploiting opponent weaknesses. Although he faced trouble securing takedowns against Nassourdine Imavov, Belgaroui lacks that same level of defensive wrestling and often leaves his hips exposed when throwing long combinations or stepping forward with knees due to his six-foot-five frame.
As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and judo brown belt, Borralho utilizes a wide karate stance to manage distance and draw Belgaroui into overextending. This allows him to duck underneath punches and secure reactive double-leg takedowns. Once the fight goes to the ground, Borralho’s top control and back-taking ability can neutralize Belgaroui’s reach, paving the way for a decision victory or a submission.
Why Yousri Belgaroui Can Win
Yousri Belgaroui offers elite kickboxing credentials and a towering stature that can challenge Borralho on the feet. Standing six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, he holds a five-inch height advantage and a four-inch reach edge over his opponent. Borralho’s previous loss to Imavov demonstrated that single-shot, low-volume strikers can struggle when forced to fight at range against combination punchers, a style where Belgaroui excels with crisp boxing, knees, and low kicks.
Training alongside former champions Alex Pereira and Glover Teixeira at Teixeira MMA, Belgaroui has enhanced his takedown defense and conditioning, as shown by his consecutive third-round finishes in the UFC. By utilizing his long jab and front kicks to deter Borralho’s level changes, Belgaroui can keep the fight standing and piece his opponent up from a distance.
Prediction and Pick
Caio Borralho is favored to win because his grappling skills and tactical approach match up well against a tall striker like Yousri Belgaroui. While Belgaroui will likely find success early with his jab and height advantage, Borralho is expected to avoid trading strikes for the full 15 minutes. Belgaroui’s tall center of gravity makes him vulnerable to quick level changes, and once Borralho takes the fight to the mat, his heavy top pressure should control the remainder of the bout.
The final prediction is Caio Borralho at -162, with the fight going over 2.5 rounds at -238.
