Caio Borralho Bio
Caio Vinícius Silva Borralho (born January 16, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known by the ring nickname “The Natural,” he trains out of São Paulo, Brazil with the team Fighting Nerds. As a ranked contender in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions, Borralho has built a reputation as a well-rounded fighter with strong grappling credentials and finishing ability.
Born in São Luís, Maranhão, Borralho combines a math-teacher heritage with a lifelong passion for martial arts that began when he was six years old. His professional record reflects consistent winning form since his 2014 debut, and he holds high-level black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, along with a brown belt in Judo. His nickname “The Natural” reflects the smooth, technical style he brings into the cage.
Early Life and Background
Caio Vinícius Silva Borralho was born on January 16, 1993, in São Luís, the capital of Maranhão state in northeastern Brazil. He grew up in a family shaped by education; his grandfather worked as a math teacher and inspired Borralho to begin tutoring younger students in math and chemistry at the age of fifteen. This early academic focus reflected a disciplined mindset that would later translate into the structured training environment of mixed martial arts.
After finishing high school, Borralho enrolled at the Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA) to study industrial chemistry. During his university years he was offered an internship at the Brazilian brewery company Ambev, but he turned it down. As his interest in fighting grew, he ultimately dropped out of university in 2014 to pursue a career in mixed martial arts full time.
Borralho’s first contact with martial arts came at six years old, when he began training judo under his first mentor, Sensei Emílio Moreira. He went on to win multiple judo championships at the state level in Maranhão and at the national level in Brazil. After losing a judo tournament by armlock, his sensei encouraged him to add jiu-jitsu to his training, and he later picked up Muay Thai as well, building the broad striking and grappling base that defines his style today.
Path to MMA
At the age of eighteen, Borralho began training in mixed martial arts, blending his judo, jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai background into a complete skill set. His very first MMA bout took place in 2014 as an amateur at Dojô James Adler, located in the metropolitan area of São Luís, Maranhão. He won that amateur outing before deciding to turn professional later the same year.
In 2014, after committing to a professional career, Borralho left his hometown of São Luís and relocated to São Paulo to access higher-level training and competition. Together with his coach Pablo Sucupira, he eventually founded his own team, Fighting Nerds, which has since become his home camp. The team name later inspired his personal nickname “Rei dos Nerds,” or King of Nerds, reflecting his love of chess, video games, and anime.
Before reaching the UFC, Borralho compiled a strong regional record on the Brazilian circuit. That body of work earned him an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC’s well-known proving ground for rising prospects. His performances on the Contender Series opened the door to the UFC roster, where he has remained active since his promotional debut.
Caio Borralho Career
Early Career (2014–2021)
Caio Borralho launched his professional mixed martial arts career in 2014 in Brazil, working through regional promotions to build his record. Across his early years he developed into a balanced middleweight who could finish fights on the feet or on the mat. By the time he was invited to Dana White’s Contender Series, his professional record stood at 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no contest.
His Contender Series journey was not immediate. In his first appearance on September 28, 2021, Borralho defeated Aaron Jeffery by unanimous decision but did not earn a UFC contract. He returned roughly a month later as a heavy favorite against Jesse Murray at Light Heavyweight, and a first-round technical knockout victory was enough to convince the UFC to sign him.
UFC Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Borralho made his UFC debut against Gadzhi Omargadzhiev at UFC on ESPN 34, winning by technical decision after an accidental foul on his opponent. He followed that up with a unanimous decision win over Armen Petrosyan at UFC on ESPN 39, and then defeated Makhmud Muradov at UFC 280 by unanimous decision. Those early UFC appearances quickly established him as a difficult out at middleweight.
In 2023 he added another submission win to his resume, finishing Michał Oleksiejczuk by rear-naked choke in the second round at UFC on ESPN 45. Later that year, he stepped in on short notice against Abusupiyan Magomedov at UFC Fight Night 231 after the original opponent Nursulton Ruziboev withdrew, and he secured a unanimous decision victory. With each outing, Borralho climbed the UFC middleweight ladder.
Fighting Nerds Era (2024–Present)
The 2024 season marked Borralho’s arrival as a top contender. At UFC 301 on May 4, 2024, he stopped Paul Craig by knockout in the second round, a finish that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. He then headlined UFC on ESPN 62 against former title challenger Jared Cannonier on August 24, 2024, and won by unanimous decision in a fight that earned him a Fight of the Night award.
In 2025 Borralho served as the backup fighter for the middleweight championship bout between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, making weight on August 15, 2025. On September 6, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 258, he headlined against Nassourdine Imavov and lost by unanimous decision in one of the toughest tests of his UFC run. He returned to the win column on March 7, 2026, at UFC 326, taking a unanimous decision over Reinier de Ridder. A rib injury later forced him out of a targeted bout with Joe Pyfer at UFC 330.
Style and Strengths
Borralho fights as a balanced mixed martial artist, comfortable striking, clinching, and grappling at a high pace. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Muay Thai black belt, combined with a brown belt in Judo, give him credible tools in every range. Working under coach Pablo Sucupira at Fighting Nerds, he pairs sharp counter-striking with a dangerous top game and a steady submission threat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his first-round TKO of Jesse Murray that secured his UFC contract, his second-round knockout of Paul Craig at UFC 301, and his main-event decision over Jared Cannonier at UFC on ESPN 62. He has also competed outside the UFC, winning a submission match against Brendan Allen at Karate Combat 53 in February 2025.
Caio Borralho Career Wins
Across his professional career in mixed martial arts, Caio Borralho has built a record defined by versatility. He has shown the ability to win by knockout, submission, or decision, which has made him a difficult matchup for opponents across multiple weight classes.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Borralho has recorded multiple decision wins, a high-profile knockout of Paul Craig, and a second-round rear-naked choke of Michał Oleksiejczuk. His win over former title challenger Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC on ESPN 62 stands as the biggest statement of his UFC run so far. Those results have pushed him into the upper tier of the UFC middleweight division.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Borralho defeated Brendan Allen by unanimous decision in a submission-only match at Karate Combat 53 on February 28, 2025. Earlier in his career, he captured multiple judo titles at the state level in Maranhão and at the national level in Brazil, an accomplishment that helped shape his grappling identity as a professional fighter.
Caio Borralho Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Caio Borralho comes from an academically inclined family in São Luís, Maranhão, where his grandfather worked as a math teacher. That family background inspired him to tutor younger students in math and chemistry at the age of fifteen, an early sign of the discipline that would later carry over into martial arts training.
Personal Life
Caio Borralho is married and has one son. He has worn eyeglasses since the age of three due to myopia and astigmatism. Outside of fighting, he is a fan of superhero films, video games, and anime, and he enjoys playing chess, a hobby that inspired his personal nickname “Rei dos Nerds,” or King of Nerds. He currently resides in São Paulo, Brazil, where he has completed a physical education degree and teaches martial arts classes at local gyms.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season positioned Caio Borralho as one of the most relevant names in the UFC middleweight division. He served as the official backup for the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, successfully making weight on August 15, 2025, and remaining ready to step in if needed.
On September 6, 2025, Borralho headlined UFC Fight Night 258 against Nassourdine Imavov, a fellow ranked contender. The bout went the distance and resulted in a unanimous decision loss for Borralho, snapping a long winning streak and reminding him of the fine margins at the top of the division. The result also adjusted his placement in the UFC middleweight rankings as the calendar turned toward the end of the year.
Despite the setback, Borralho closed 2025 with his Fighting Nerds team and coach Pablo Sucupira firmly in place, and with a clear opportunity to reset against another ranked opponent. His combination of finishing ability, grappling pedigree, and prior main-event win over Jared Cannonier kept him firmly inside the title conversation heading into the next phase of his career.
