The bespectacled Brazilian was one of the stars of Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender series last year, hanging out for a second fight two weeks after defeating Aaron Jeffrey but failing to secure a contract, confident that he would win the UFC president with his second attempt.
After mutilating Jesse Murray, Borralho was invited to join the UFC roster, and this year the 29-year-old middleweight continued to impress, knocking out a pair of classmates from last season’s DWCS graduating squad.
In April, Borralho outplayed Gadzhi Omargadzhiev, earning a technical decision win after an accidental foul rendered Omargadzhiev unable to continue. Then, in July, he shared the Octagon with Armen Petrosyan and earned a second consecutive victory by decision, extending his winning streak to nine and his unbeaten streak to a dozen.
After showing he is capable of firing other newcomers to the UFC roster, Borralho takes a step up in competition this weekend in Abu Dhabi, taking on 32-fight veteran Makhmud Muradov on Saturday.
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Muradov, 32, picked up three straight wins to start his UFC tenure, including stoppage wins over Trevor Smith and Andrew Sanchez that took his winning streak to 14 and gave him an 18-2 record in his last 20 fights. His winning streak came to an end last time out against Gerald Meerschaert, as the tireless American veteran rallied after a tough first period to secure a second-round submission.
Despite last summer’s setback, Muradov is by far the most experienced, skilled and dangerous opponent Borralho has faced to date in the UFC, and this weekend’s pairing should help. to further clarify the former DWCS’ place in the middleweight division.
A win in Abu Dhabi won’t necessarily propel Borralho into the Top 15 in the 185-pound ranks, but it should get him close to cracking the leaderboard and landing him in the Octagon with someone in a comparable position. – or maybe a next number. in their name – the next time he enters the UFC cage.
Muhammad Mokaev