Caio Borralho Aims for UFC 334 Return at Madison Square Garden
Caio Borralho has a date in mind, a city in mind, and a point to prove.
The No. 6-ranked middleweight in the Meta UFC Rankings wants back in at UFC 334, targeting a return to the Octagon on November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The injury that ripped away his UFC 330 clash with Joe Pyfer still stings, but the Brazilian is already looking past the operating table and straight at the bright lights of the Garden.
From surgery table to “full training”
Speaking to MMAFighting.com’s Guilherme Cruz, Borralho laid out where he stands physically and mentally after being forced to withdraw from the Pyfer fight.
“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,” he said. “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.”
That’s not a man easing his way back. That’s a contender trying to hit the gas again.
The cancelled Pyfer bout was more than just another booking. It was a key middleweight crossroads, a test between two dangerous, rising names. Losing it to injury forced Borralho into surgery and a reset he didn’t want, but probably needed.
He hasn’t let go of the 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,” Borralho said. “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.”
The message is clear: if the UFC wants to rebook Pyfer, Borralho will sign.
A contender taking shape
Since arriving in the UFC in 2022, Borralho has moved with intent. He’s 8-1 in the promotion, a run that already includes notable wins over Jared Cannonier, Reinier de Ridder, and Abus Magomdov. His only setback came against Nassourdine Imavov, a man now hovering right on the edge of a title shot against champion Sean Strickland.
That context matters. It’s why Borralho talks about the belt without blinking.
“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,” he said. “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.”
He isn’t asking for a tune-up. He’s asking for a fight that moves the needle.
Look at the rankings and the picture sharpens. Sitting just above him are Joe Pyfer and Brendan Allen. Both are credible, both are dangerous, and both would push Borralho closer to the conversation he clearly believes he belongs in.
A rebooked Pyfer clash would carry unfinished-business energy. An Allen fight would be a pure contender’s eliminator. Either way, the stakes are obvious.
The UFC matchmakers now hold the next move. Borralho has circled the date, circled the venue, and declared himself almost ready to sprint into another camp. If his body holds up and the phone rings with the right name, Madison Square Garden may well stage the next step in a quietly surging run toward middleweight gold.
