Caio Borralho Aiming for UFC 334 Comeback at Madison Square Garden
Caio Borralho has a date in mind and a point to prove.
The No. 6-ranked middleweight in the Meta UFC Rankings wants back in the cage at UFC 334, targeting Madison Square Garden on November 14 for his return after an untimely injury forced him out of a key clash with Joe Pyfer at UFC 330.
From surgery table to full training
The Brazilian spoke with MMAFighting.com’s Guilherme Cruz and made it clear: the rehab phase is almost over, and the hard work has already begun.
“I think I’m around 90 to 95 percent, but I’m full training right now. I’m doing everything, doing grappling, wrestling, striking and everything. I think a day for me to start a camp will be like in three, four weeks, and I want to fight in MSG, so this is the perfect date for me,” Borralho said.
The timing matters. UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden is one of the sport’s crown-jewel events, and Borralho wants his name on that marquee. The frustration from losing the Pyfer fight still lingers, but it’s turned into fuel.
He was slated to meet Pyfer in a pivotal middleweight matchup at UFC 330 before injury and subsequent surgery pulled the plug. For a fighter riding real momentum, it was a brutal pause.
Unfinished business with Joe Pyfer?
Borralho hasn’t let go of that matchup.
“I think it was a great match-up against Joe Pyfer, he was one of the top guys in the world. I think it will be a great fight with him. I think we’re going to do this fight sooner or later, but I needed to pull out and do surgery and all this stuff. But I feel ready already. I feel that I’m getting the best shape of my life right now,” he said.
That’s not just lip service. In a division where one statement win can rocket a contender into the title picture, Pyfer remains an ideal dance partner: dangerous, ranked, and stylistically compelling. If the UFC wants to simply hit reset on a fight that already had buzz, Borralho is clearly on board.
A fast climb and a clear target
Since arriving in the UFC in 2022, Borralho has wasted little time building a résumé. He’s 8-1 in the promotion, with notable wins over Jared Cannonier, Reinier de Ridder, and Abus Magomdov. His only loss came against top contender Nassourdine Imavov, who now sits on the brink of a title shot against current champion Sean Strickland.
That context shapes Borralho’s outlook. He doesn’t see himself as a prospect anymore. He sees a short road to the belt.
“I’m just waiting for the UFC to give him a name and then we’re going to accept right away, doesn’t matter who. I just need to make sense for me, for the company, and for the division. I had like seven straight wins and then I lost. Now I have a good win against de Ridder, that did very good last weekend (against Roman Dolidze). I think one or two more on the way to the belt. I’m just waiting for the name,” Borralho said.
One or two more. That’s the window he’s set for himself.
Matchmakers on the clock
The rankings paint a straightforward picture. The most logical opponents are the two men directly in front of him: Joe Pyfer and Brendan Allen. Both are established names, both are in the same tier of contention, and both would give Borralho the kind of win that can’t be ignored in title conversations.
The Brazilian has circled the date. The arena is chosen. The body is almost back to full throttle.
Now the question hangs over the middleweight division: who will be the man standing across from Caio Borralho under the lights at Madison Square Garden, with a potential title run on the line?
