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Caio Borralho showcased his grit and determination in the biggest fight of his career, earning a hard-fought victory over Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC Vegas 96. The bout, held at the UFC APEX, marked a significant milestone for Borralho, extending his win streak to 16 consecutive fights and solidifying his status as a rising star in the middleweight division.
The judges scored the fight decisively in favor of Borralho, with two giving him four of the five rounds. The final tallies were 49-45, 49-45, and 48-46, reflecting the Brazilian's consistent performance throughout the intense five-round contest.
The fight kicked off with Borralho landing a series of powerful jabs, which quickly left their mark on Cannonier. A brief pause occurred after an inadvertent eye poke from Borralho, but the action soon resumed with both fighters trading heavy blows. Cannonier responded with a solid left hook, but Borralho's relentless calf kicks began to take a toll, disrupting Cannonier's rhythm. Despite Cannonier's efforts, Borralho consistently found success in the exchanges, edging out his opponent in most of the early rounds.
In the second round, Cannonier came out strong, putting Borralho on the defensive. However, the Brazilian continued to control the pace with his jab. Cannonier landed a significant right hand that momentarily shifted the momentum, but Borralho remained composed, countering effectively. The round ended with Cannonier gaining confidence, but Borralho's resilience kept the fight balanced.
The third round was more tentative, with both fighters cautious after the high-paced action of the earlier rounds. In the final minute, Borralho unleashed a combination that hurt Cannonier, but the veteran managed to survive the onslaught, even landing a few counters of his own before the round ended.
As the fight entered the championship rounds, Cannonier found success with his counterpunching, even opening a cut below Borralho's right eye in the fourth round. The round was closely contested, with both fighters having their moments.
In the final round, both men were visibly exhausted but continued to exchange strikes. The fight took a dramatic turn when Borralho dropped Cannonier with a brutal shot, nearly ending the bout. Despite the severe damage, Cannonier managed to hang on, surviving a late arm-triangle choke attempt by Borralho to reach the final bell.
With this victory, Borralho improves to 7-0 in the UFC and is poised to climb into the top ranks of the middleweight division. After the fight, Borralho set his sights on middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, though he may need another victory or two before earning a title shot.
Cannonier, on the other hand, has now suffered back-to-back losses, including a TKO defeat against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Louisville in June, putting him at a crossroads in his career.
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