vs
-510 +475
UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg · May 04, 2024 · Middleweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg Next Fight
Age 33
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 38
Height 6' 3"
Reach 76.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Caio Borralho
3.47 SLpM
56.0% Str. Acc.
2.61 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
1.25 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
76.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Paul Craig
2.5 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
3.04 SApM
43.0% Str. Def.
1.43 TD Avg
18.0% TD Acc.
35.0% TD Def.
1.3 Sub. Avg
Caio Borralho
Moneyline
FanDuel -510
KO/TKO
BetWay +225
Submission
FanDuel +270
Decision
BetRivers +215
Paul Craig
Moneyline
BetWay +475
KO/TKO
BetWay +1600
Submission
FanDuel +1000
Decision
FanDuel +1500
Caio Borralho - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 326 · Mar 07, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 57 of 98 58% 71 of 112 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:52
Reinier de Ridder 0 55 of 141 39% 111 of 199 2 of 8 25% 0 0 2:46
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 24 of 42 57% 24 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Reinier de Ridder 0 19 of 51 37% 30 of 62 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:26
2 Caio Borralho 0 14 of 25 56% 22 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:41
Reinier de Ridder 0 17 of 43 39% 23 of 50 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:20
3 Caio Borralho 0 19 of 31 61% 25 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:11
Reinier de Ridder 0 19 of 47 40% 58 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 57 of 98 58% 32 of 65 9 of 16 16 of 17 55 of 95 0 of 0 2 of 3
Reinier de Ridder 55 of 141 39% 37 of 117 10 of 15 8 of 9 53 of 139 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 24 of 42 57% 14 of 26 3 of 8 7 of 8 23 of 41 0 of 0 1 of 1
Reinier de Ridder 19 of 51 37% 9 of 37 3 of 6 7 of 8 19 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 14 of 25 56% 6 of 16 2 of 3 6 of 6 14 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Reinier de Ridder 17 of 43 39% 12 of 37 4 of 5 1 of 1 15 of 41 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Caio Borralho 19 of 31 61% 12 of 23 4 of 5 3 of 3 18 of 29 0 of 0 1 of 2
Reinier de Ridder 19 of 47 40% 16 of 43 3 of 4 0 of 0 19 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo points out that Caio is a slick grappler with improving striking, while RDR is a known quitter who quit on the stool in his last fight. He acknowledges RDR's size and grappling ability but believes Caio is too smart and mobile to be brute forced. He also notes the fight is 15 minutes, which might favor RDR, but ultimately cannot pick a two-time quitter.

"Caio is going to be the pick here. How could you pick a known quitter at this point?"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady picks Caio Borralho over Reinier de Ridder. He notes de Ridder had severe health issues and gassed badly in his last fight against Brendan Allen, unable to get up between rounds. Borralho is the better striker and has solid wrestling and takedown defense. Brady expects de Ridder to win the first round but fade, allowing Borralho to take over and win a decision, possibly with a late finish.

Borralho by decision
"I think Kyle's going to take over and win the second and third round. Maybe get a late finish, but I'll say Kyle Bow wins this fight and wins it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody also picks Borralho, highlighting his excellent jab, durability, and cardio. He criticizes de Ridder's weight cut, age, and reliance on a step-in knee that works best against orthodox fighters. He expects Borralho to win by decision, possibly via a straight left down the middle.

"I got Kale Barow as well."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Connor picks Borralho but with hesitation. He notes that Borralho's low output and choosy striking could be exploited by de Ridder's relentless pressure, but de Ridder lacks the combination striking to punish Borralho's flaws. Connor worries about Borralho's positional complacency in the clinch and on the ground, and de Ridder's ability to take him down and control him, as seen in the Brendan Allen fight. However, he ultimately trusts Borralho's defensive instincts.

Odds: Borralho opened at -260, now -250; de Ridder opened at +220, now +210. Connor suggests better value on de Ridder than on Oliveira.
"I'm still going to pick Bahaio just because I do not think de Ritter represents the actual downfalls for him."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland picks Caio Borralho but is hesitant due to the steep odds (-275). He believes Borralho's Damen Mia black belt jiu-jitsu can neutralize de Ridder's grappling, and he favors Borralho's technical striking. However, he notes that Borralho doesn't dominate opponents and that de Ridder could surprise after a poor performance. Vreeland sees this as a competitive fight and would not lay the juice.

"Pure pick, I'll go with the Damen Mia Black Belt Bohaya. But no way in hell I can lay no minus 275 or minus 300 on him in this spot."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert pick date unknown

The host acknowledges Borralho is better everywhere technically, with superior striking defense and takedown defense (77%), and expects him to win. However, he sees no value at the current odds (1.35 / -285) as Borralho's implied probability of 74% is too high to justify a bet. He also dislikes de Ridder, calling him sloppy and low-level, but passes on the fight entirely.

"Barralho should win, but his odds reflect his advantages, and there's just no value here for me."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

James favors Caio Borralho due to his superior striking, better cardio, and ability to hang with de Ridder in grappling. He points out de Ridder's questionable cardio and quitting in his last fight, while Borralho is more energy-efficient. James believes Borralho can hurt de Ridder on the feet and potentially get a finish, especially as de Ridder tires. He also notes Borralho's grappling success against Brendan Allen in a karate combat match, suggesting he can reverse or neutralize de Ridder's takedowns.

"I'm picking Kyio to win the fight. I don't know whether he's going to get a knockout decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Borralho is well-rounded and can stop de Ridder's grappling. He is a better striker and should outpoint de Ridder over five rounds. De Ridder has a history of quitting when pressured. Borralho by decision is likely, and he's a solid parlay piece.

Borralho by decision; parlay piece
"I'm going to go Bahalo here. Baja by decision. And I don't mind parlaying him at minus 275 either."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Paul picks Borralho, citing his durability, improved striking, and poor matchup for de Ridder. He notes de Ridder's body shutdown in the Allen fight and his awkward style. He expects Borralho to win by decision, possibly hitting the over 2.5 rounds.

over 2.5 rounds
"I just don't really see too many paths to victory for Rainer here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Reinier de Ridder

The MMA Guru picks Reinier de Ridder, believing his grappling will overwhelm Borralho. He notes de Ridder's success against Brendan Allen and his relentless chain wrestling. He expects de Ridder to win a decision, possibly losing the third round due to cardio.

29-28 decision
"I'm going to go with Raina Derrida getting this one done based on the first two rounds using his grappling."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Zane also picks Borralho but with reservations. He notes that de Ridder's pressure could overwhelm Borralho if he hasn't prepared properly, and that Borralho's out-fighting style may not hold up against relentless pressure. Zane points out that de Ridder's game is to crash into opponents and take them down, which could exploit Borralho's tendency to get complacent in the clinch. He sticks with his pick but acknowledges the uncertainty.

Odds: Borralho -250, de Ridder +210.
"I've already picked Bahaio on my podcast, so I'm going to stick with my guns here, but the closer we get, this is one of those match ups where I'm like, do I trust Bahaio against somebody who simply doesn't …"
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nassourdine Imavov 0 81 of 162 50% 89 of 170 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Caio Borralho 0 66 of 166 39% 89 of 190 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nassourdine Imavov 0 10 of 18 55% 15 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Borralho 0 6 of 22 27% 13 of 30 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:51
2 Nassourdine Imavov 0 13 of 26 50% 13 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Borralho 0 7 of 30 23% 7 of 30 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Nassourdine Imavov 0 13 of 31 41% 14 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Caio Borralho 0 17 of 38 44% 21 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:22
4 Nassourdine Imavov 0 24 of 44 54% 26 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:27
Caio Borralho 0 12 of 32 37% 20 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
5 Nassourdine Imavov 0 21 of 43 48% 21 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Borralho 0 24 of 44 54% 28 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nassourdine Imavov 81 of 162 50% 53 of 118 14 of 26 14 of 18 79 of 160 2 of 2 0 of 0
Caio Borralho 66 of 166 39% 39 of 109 14 of 38 13 of 19 59 of 159 7 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nassourdine Imavov 10 of 18 55% 3 of 6 3 of 5 4 of 7 9 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0
Caio Borralho 6 of 22 27% 1 of 10 4 of 8 1 of 4 3 of 19 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Nassourdine Imavov 13 of 26 50% 9 of 20 3 of 4 1 of 2 13 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Borralho 7 of 30 23% 3 of 16 1 of 11 3 of 3 7 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Nassourdine Imavov 13 of 31 41% 10 of 24 2 of 6 1 of 1 13 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Borralho 17 of 38 44% 8 of 22 7 of 13 2 of 3 14 of 35 3 of 3 0 of 0
4 Nassourdine Imavov 24 of 44 54% 17 of 35 3 of 5 4 of 4 24 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Borralho 12 of 32 37% 10 of 26 0 of 3 2 of 3 12 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Nassourdine Imavov 21 of 43 48% 14 of 33 3 of 6 4 of 4 20 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
Caio Borralho 24 of 44 54% 17 of 35 2 of 3 5 of 6 23 of 43 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
Nassourdine Imavov

Angelo leans towards Nassourdine Imavov, citing his superior striking, footwork, and gas tank. He acknowledges Borralho's improvements and toughness but believes Imavov has more ways to win. He trusts Imavov's takedown defense over five rounds and notes that Borralho might be distracted by his world tour. He calls it a razor-thin 50-50 fight.

"I am going to lean Nasser Imov here because I think he has more ways to win."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady picks Caio Borralho, citing his grappling upside and the 'Fighting Nerds' aura. He expects a close fight going 25 minutes, with Borralho winning minutes in the clinch and with takedowns. He notes both have good cardio but favors Borralho slightly.

Borralho by decision
"I'm going to go Kyle Baja to win this fight by a close decision, winning some minutes in the clinch, having the slightly better cardio, and then mixing in some takedowns."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Connor also picks Borralho, citing that Imavov's game may struggle against a southpaw and that Borralho's low kicks and body work will pay dividends. He notes that Imavov still tends to gas, especially if he wrestles, and that Borralho's conditioning is superior. However, he admits that Borralho's one good performance against Cannonier may be stylistic and that Imavov could have a definitive round.

"I tend to agree because even if it's not that good a performance, I do kind of suspect a lot of that had to do with Jared Cannonier as a stylistic matchup for him."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The host views Borralho as the far superior fighter in fight IQ and overall MMA approach. He acknowledges Imavov can be competitive in striking but expects Borralho to mix it up well, get his grappling going, and win at least four out of five rounds on the scorecards.

"I think Bajalio is just the far superior fighter from fight IQ to an overall MMA approach. But Hayo can definitely be competitive in the striking realm, and I think we'll see him mix it up well to eventually get …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Nassourdine Imavov

The Guru picks Nassourdine Imavov as an underdog, arguing the odds are incorrect and Imavov should be a 2-to-1 favorite. He praises Imavov's striking, footwork, and speed, while noting Borralho's grappling advantage may not materialize. He predicts a TKO finish in round three or four, citing Imavov's moments of excellence and Borralho's inactivity.

TKO finish in round three or four
"I'm going with Nasadin Mav. And he's an underdog here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Zane leans toward Borralho because he believes Borralho has shown improved striking and pace, particularly in the Jared Cannonier fight, and can push a better pace for more rounds. He notes that Imavov tends to gas and relies on wrestling, which may not be effective against Borralho's conditioning. However, he acknowledges that Imavov could have a definitive round or land a damaging shot, making it a close fight.

"I think for me, I'm still going to lean towards picking Caio Borralho just because if I imagine the shape of the fight, I don't think like Imavov when he finishes people, it always just kind of comes out of …"
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–45, 48–46) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho · Aug 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 83 of 254 32% 83 of 254 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 1 153 of 255 60% 156 of 258 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 15 of 32 46% 15 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Caio Borralho 0 26 of 70 37% 26 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 21 of 43 48% 21 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Caio Borralho 0 15 of 58 25% 15 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 37 of 58 63% 37 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
4 Caio Borralho 0 19 of 50 38% 19 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 0 30 of 53 56% 30 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Caio Borralho 0 11 of 42 26% 11 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Cannonier 1 50 of 69 72% 53 of 72 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 83 of 254 32% 57 of 206 11 of 24 15 of 24 82 of 252 1 of 2 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 153 of 255 60% 106 of 197 26 of 37 21 of 21 129 of 224 2 of 3 22 of 28
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 12 of 34 35% 4 of 23 2 of 2 6 of 9 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 15 of 32 46% 7 of 22 4 of 6 4 of 4 15 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 26 of 70 37% 18 of 53 4 of 9 4 of 8 25 of 69 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 21 of 43 48% 14 of 34 2 of 4 5 of 5 21 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Caio Borralho 15 of 58 25% 14 of 54 0 of 1 1 of 3 15 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 37 of 58 63% 24 of 44 10 of 11 3 of 3 36 of 56 1 of 2 0 of 0
4 Caio Borralho 19 of 50 38% 11 of 38 4 of 8 4 of 4 19 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 30 of 53 56% 19 of 37 5 of 10 6 of 6 30 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Caio Borralho 11 of 42 26% 10 of 38 1 of 4 0 of 0 11 of 41 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Cannonier 50 of 69 72% 42 of 60 5 of 6 3 of 3 27 of 40 1 of 1 22 of 28
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo picks Caio Borralho, citing his high fight IQ and slick grappling. He notes that Borralho is a 'fighting nerd' who makes smart adjustments mid-fight, and that his head is massive and hard to put out. He acknowledges Cannonier's power and the short notice for both, but believes Borralho's intelligence and size advantage will carry him.

"Kyo is going to be the pick I think this is short notice for both of them... Kyo is bigger than 6'1 he's probably 6'2 he's a big dude and his head is like a cow's head"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Jared Cannonier

Cody thinks the betting line on Borralho is inflated. He notes Cannonier is a tough veteran who has fought top competition and has good takedown defense and get-up game. He believes Borralho may try to be entertaining instead of wrestling, which plays into Cannonier's hands. He also mentions Cannonier's price of +190 is too good to pass up.

"I think this number is insane... Canon ear plus 190 I bet it if it keeps getting bigger I'm gonna bet it more"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Jared Cannonier

Daniel Vreeland is not fully confident but leans toward Jared Cannonier. He argues that Borralho's competition has been unranked and his striking volume is low, while Cannonier has proven output against top fighters. He worries about Cannonier's age and recent stoppage loss but believes the volume and experience advantage will be decisive unless Cannonier has declined overnight.

"I think that Jared is gonna neutralize the grappling and bust them up standing and I think the volume difference is going to be huge"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

JP picks Borralho by decision, noting he is 6-0 in the UFC and hasn't lost since 2015. He highlights Borralho's grappling match against heavyweight Jilton Almeida as evidence of his skills. He thinks Cannonier is 40 and inconsistent. Brevin agrees, picking Borralho, praising his striking style similar to Michael Venom Page with explosive entries, and his good grappling. He thinks Cannonier will try to pressure but Borralho's in-and-out movement will be effective.

"I'm taking barho uh Bario's 6-0 in the UFC hasn't lost since 2015 and we're talking about jarro caner wanting to ragdoll people barho had a grappling match against jilton Almeida"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Jared Cannonier

Paul agrees with Cody, favoring Cannonier because of his experience and plus money. He notes Cannonier is 40 and coming off knee surgery but has fought the best. He thinks Borralho might try to be aggressive to impress, which could lead to his demise. Paul also mentions that Borralho's low volume and risk-averse style might not work against a durable veteran.

"I'm favoring koner as well one CU he's plus money but two just basically everything you've mentioned he's fought all the best guys of the division"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho by rear-naked choke. He notes Cannonier's takedown defense is good but he gives up his back often. He believes Borralho's back-take ability and momentum from his win over Paul Craig will be key. He also cites Cannonier's age (40) and quick turnaround after a near-finish loss to Nassourdine Imavov. He trusts Borralho's improving standup and the Fighting Nerds team.

rear-naked choke
"I'm going to go with baralo here here guys I'm going to go with the younger baralo who's not 40 31 in his prime fighting out a fighting nerds"
WIN vs Paul Craig
KO (punches) R2 2:10 · UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg · May 04, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 22 of 48 45% 22 of 50 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:30
Paul Craig 1 36 of 50 72% 43 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 15 of 29 51% 15 of 31 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:30
Paul Craig 0 20 of 30 66% 27 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
2 Caio Borralho 0 7 of 19 36% 7 of 19 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 1 16 of 20 80% 16 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 22 of 48 45% 4 of 19 12 of 23 6 of 6 22 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 36 of 50 72% 29 of 41 3 of 5 4 of 4 35 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 15 of 29 51% 3 of 9 8 of 16 4 of 4 15 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 20 of 30 66% 14 of 22 2 of 4 4 of 4 19 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 7 of 19 36% 1 of 10 4 of 7 2 of 2 7 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 16 of 20 80% 15 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 16 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo is confident in Borralho, calling Paul Craig overrated and noting he can be finished. He expects Borralho to dominate and possibly finish Craig. He suggests waiting for prop bets.

Angelo says 'let's wait for the props to see what juice we can get going'
"Kyle baral is going to win this fight he should dominate here he should finish Paul Craig"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady sees Borralho as the much better striker and believes he will knock out Craig. He notes Craig's poor chin and recent damage taken. He predicts Borralho will take his time and finish Craig in the second round.

"I think Kyle knocks him out I think Kyle B gets his first UFC knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody picks Borralho, citing his superior wrestling, cardio, and durability. He notes Craig relies on submission magic but is poor defensively and has been neutralized by good grapplers. Cody expects Borralho to control the fight and win by decision or TKO.

"I think Kyle wins and maybe by decision..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland agrees with Jeff Fox on Caio Borralho. He emphasizes that Borralho is a great striker, noting his Contender Series wins over Aaron Jeffery and Jesse Murray were striking performances. Vreeland thinks people forget Borralho's striking because he is Brazilian and assumed to be a jiu-jitsu specialist. He believes Borralho can finish Paul Craig on the feet or on the ground, as Craig is a BJJ specialist but Borralho has the skills to avoid submissions and wear him down. Vreeland also mentions Craig's cardio concerns at middleweight.

"I think people forget that when Kai oh came to the UFC because he's Brazilian people are like oh yeah Jiu-Jitsu but like he came into the UFC with a couple of big striking performan is I think we can …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland picks Borralho by decision, citing his superior jiu-jitsu (Damaian Maya black belt) and well-rounded game. He notes that Craig's only path is submission, but Borralho's grappling defense should neutralize that. He highlights Borralho's decision-heavy record and suggests the decision prop at +200 as a better value than the -600 moneyline.

Borralho by decision +200
"I think Kyle's gonna win this one by decision and right now the money line on Kyle is what did we say was it minus 600 again yes sir but the decision Props Plus 200"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Jeff Fox picks Caio Borralho despite the steep -550 line. He notes that Borralho has the striking ability to keep the fight standing and potentially knock out Paul Craig, as Borralho stated in an interview. Fox also believes Borralho can replicate what Brendan Allen did on the ground, as he has the pressure and submission defense to avoid Craig's submissions early and wear him down. He questions Craig's cardio at middleweight, noting he appeared to quit in the Allen fight. Fox also highlights Borralho's underrated striking, pointing to his Contender Series performances where he beat Aaron Jeffery on the feet and knocked out Jesse Murray.

Borralho by KO/TKO +250 mentioned as a prop later in the show
"I love C Ohio yeah negative 550 not run into the ticket counter with it but uh yeah I'm still picking him here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Borralho is superior everywhere and is one of the hottest Brazilian prospects. He will use grappling defensively early, chip away at Craig, and possibly find a knockout. If Craig slows down, Borralho will take him down and smash from top position. Borralho finishes within two or three rounds.

finish within two or three rounds
"look for bajayo to finish this fight within two or three rounds"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Paul picks Borralho, emphasizing his superior grappling, wrestling, and durability. He believes Craig's only path is a submission, but Borralho's BJJ black belt and top control will neutralize that. Paul expects Borralho to stuff takedowns and ground-and-pound.

Borralho by KO/TKO
"I'm thinking he knocks him out... he just stuffs him and gets on top of him and puts a beating on."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho, predicting a first-round knockout via a stiff jab. He believes Borralho is a well-rounded, big middleweight with enough takedown defense to keep the fight standing, where Craig is less dangerous. He notes Borralho's recent wins over Abus Magomedov and Maxime Gremont, and expects him to chin Craig early.

first minute or two of the fight he chins Paul Craig and puts him away
"I'm going to go with baralo with a jab knocks down Craig and puts him away"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis · Nov 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 1 51 of 103 49% 70 of 126 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:17
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 38 of 107 35% 39 of 110 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 11 of 25 44% 11 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 7 of 33 21% 7 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Caio Borralho 0 21 of 42 50% 21 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 20 of 49 40% 20 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Caio Borralho 1 19 of 36 52% 38 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:17
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 11 of 25 44% 12 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 51 of 103 49% 33 of 73 11 of 15 7 of 15 50 of 102 0 of 0 1 of 1
Abusupiyan Magomedov 38 of 107 35% 19 of 74 14 of 24 5 of 9 38 of 107 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 11 of 25 44% 5 of 15 1 of 1 5 of 9 11 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 7 of 33 21% 5 of 24 1 of 4 1 of 5 7 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 21 of 42 50% 13 of 29 6 of 8 2 of 5 21 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 20 of 49 40% 8 of 33 9 of 13 3 of 3 20 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Caio Borralho 19 of 36 52% 15 of 29 4 of 6 0 of 1 18 of 35 0 of 0 1 of 1
Abusupiyan Magomedov 11 of 25 44% 6 of 17 4 of 7 1 of 1 11 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Caio Borralho vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Borralho (-265), Magomedov (+215)

Round 1
On the outside of the top 15 at middleweight looking in, surging Brazilian grappler Borralho (14-1, 1 NC; 4-0 UFC) may be one win away from getting a number next to his name. Coming off a loss to future champ Sean Strickland, Magomedov (25-5-1, 1-1 UFC) could surprise many if he pulls off the upset and ends Borralho’s 14-fight unbeaten streak. The third man in the cage is referee Marc Goddard, and the fighters bump fists and nod to one another before engaging. Magomedov switches stances and fakes numerous kicks initially, and Borralho leaps into action with an unorthodox stomp kick to the rear leg. Magomedov swipes out with a leg kick, and Borralho counters with one up high. Borralho darts forward with a jab, and he ducks when Magomedov is about to catch him with a right hand. Borralho pokes out another jab, and the crowd loudly starts chanting “Borralho.” He does not change his approach despite the deafening cheering, instead firing off a head kick and not finding the mark. Both men go for leg kicks, and jabs are traded as well, with neither committing to much of merit. Magomedov tries to corner his foe, and Borralho circles and bounces off the wall to escape a hefty right hand aimed at his mug. Magomedov checks a leg kick and reaches a right hand to the body, and he escapes before absorbing a counterattack. Borralho pushes off with a front kick, and he goes wide with a whipping kick. Borralho shoots in for a double, and Magomedov shuts it down and launches a kick that just misses the top of Borralho’s head. Some damage has appeared on the right side of Borralho’s face, with rapid reddening from the select few strikes that have landed cleanly. Borralho lunges with a one-two, and Magomedov pushes off with his fingers outstretched and jams his pointer finger into the eye socket. Goddard recognizes the foul immediately and pauses the action, and he brings the physician in to check on Borralho’s vision. The Brazilian wipes at his eye, and after a minute of recovery time and a little towel to wipe it out, Borralho is good to go. The two share an embrace to signal that there are no hard feelings, and they get back to it. Magomedov reintroduces himself with a sharp one-two, and Borralho slides out of the way of anything that could follow. The horn sounds to end this less-than-stellar round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
Fists are bumped to start off Round 2, and Borralho strikes first with a kick to the ribs. Borralho jumps with a knee out, but Magomedov is well out of harm’s way. Magomedov crowds his man and slams his fists into Borralho’s midsection, and when Borralho looks to fire back, Magomedov hand-fights and a finger nearly sticks into the eye. Borralho powers out a solid jab, and he gets backed up to the wall and tries to spin to keep Magomedov honest. Borralho sees an opening when Magomedov is advancing, and he cracks the Russian with a right hand behind the ear. Magomedov signals that it was no big deal, and Borralho lands another. Magomedov gets away with another eye poke, despite Borralho’s protests, and Goddard tells Magomedov to keep his hands closed. They both fire off body kicks, and Magomedov adds a leg kick to his effort. Magomedov prods out a right hand, and Borralho misses with a counter. Magomedov steps in with a heavier right, and Borralho aims and fires multiple kicks in response that are largely blocked. Magomedov gets in a single front kick down the middle, and he dodges when Borralho jumps in the air. The power strikes are missing from both fighters, but a jab from Borralho gets Magomedov’s attention. Magomedov offers a high-five after getting tagged with a straight jab, and Borralho lets him crowd him so he can mark him up with a jump knee. Borralho picks up his volume a little after opening a cut beneath Magomedov’s left eye, but time expires before he can do much.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
The middleweights hug it out with five minutes to go, and then decide to be more violent than before. The two alternate kicks to the body and power hooks, and Borralho looks for his stiff jab. The jab has caused some damage on the nose and eye, and he aims that right hand at the red areas. Borralho follows a jab with a left hand down the middle, and his jab snaps the head back when he flicks it out again. Magomedov walks into the jab, and Borralho slaps him upside the head with an open hand. Magomedov comes up short with a one-two, and the two are largely relegated to potshotting one another. Another open-handed strike from Borralho lands behind the ear, and he lashes out with an elbow that hurts Magomedov. The Russian acknowledges he is hurt and takes a deep breath, and Borralho charges after him and spins with an elbow. Borralho pours on the pressure and takes Magomedov out of his game, targeting the body with strikes and connecting with a solid knee that buckles Magomedov’s legs. Magomedov slowly sits to his seat against the fence, and Borralho looks to finish the fight and complete the mighty comeback, but Magomedov is tough and surviving despite his fatigue and discomfort. Borralho lowers himself down to pursue a potential submission like an arm-triangle, and after multiple scrambles, Borralho takes the back and gets both hooks in. With one minute to spare, Borralho starts fishing for a rear-naked choke, and he simultaneously fastens the body triangle. The two start talking to one another, and they strangely clap hands while Borralho hangs on from behind. Borralho cannot muster a stoppage, and it remains to be seen if his third-round scorecard is enough to sway things in his favor or towards an even tally, depending on how the first two were scored. The lackluster encounter comes to a close, and the two are happy to be done with fighting one another.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borralho (29-28 Magomedov)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-8 Borralho (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Borralho (29-28 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Caio Borralho def. Abusupiyan Magomedov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo gives a slight lean to Borralho, expecting him to wrestle and get takedowns. He acknowledges Magomedov is a powerful striker and that Borralho has looked vulnerable in fights. He does not bet on this fight, considering Borralho a potential parlay buster. He notes that if Magomedov was fraud checked by Strickland, then Borralho should win easily.

no bet, Borralho could be a parlay buster
"I am going to pick Kyo because he's at home he I think he can I can 100% count on him to try to wrestle"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady picks Caio Borralho to win by submission in the third round. He notes that Abus Magomedov has cardio issues, gassing after the first round against Sean Strickland. He believes Magomedov will win the first round but then fade, allowing Borralho to take over with takedowns and submissions. He also mentions Magomedov took the fight on short notice and is traveling to Brazil.

"give me Kyle B to win this fight I think he mixes in the takedowns where's on Abu medov and submits him in the third round there"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Levi picks Caio Borralho, citing his intelligent fighting style, elite Jiu-Jitsu under Damien Maia, and consistent performances. He notes that Borralho has shown holes in his game, such as cardio concerns and low striking output, but believes he is more reliable than Magomedov. Levi is concerned about Magomedov's performance against Sean Strickland, where he looked defeated and gassed quickly. He sees Magomedov as a wild card with a padded record, and while he considered a plus-money stab on Magomedov earlier, he ultimately leans Borralho.

"I'm gonna lean with Borralho but I don't have any interest in laying this price... I'm going to pick him to win this fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Abusupiyan Magomedov

James thinks the line is too wide and likes Magomedov at +250. He argues that Borralho rarely covers -300 unless he can dominate with grappling, and he is not sure Borralho can do that against Magomedov. He notes that Borralho gasses and that Magomedov has looked good in fights, including against Dustin Stoltzfus. He believes if the fight stays on the feet, it will be close, and Magomedov has value as a big underdog.

James mentions that Borralho has a lot of decisions and doesn't push the pace, and he feels the over on total rounds should be favored. He also includes Magomedov in a degenerate parlay.
"I just think the line's wide to be honest... I like magam medov a lot in this spot."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho over Abusupiyan Magomedov. He questions Magomedov's cardio and durability, noting he gassed badly against Sean Strickland. The Guru highlights Borralho's size (6'2"), strong double-leg entries, and improving striking. He believes Borralho's grappling will neutralize Magomedov's wild striking and lead to a finish or dominant decision. He also calls Magomedov a 'quitter'.

"I'm going to go with baralo here over Abus... abis magedov dangerous but quitter"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:49 · UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simon · Apr 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 34 of 55 61% 52 of 74 3 of 6 50% 1 0 2:39
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 30 of 65 46% 30 of 65 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 25 of 45 55% 30 of 50 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:41
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 26 of 55 47% 26 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
2 Caio Borralho 0 9 of 10 90% 22 of 24 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:58
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 34 of 55 61% 19 of 37 10 of 13 5 of 5 18 of 37 5 of 7 11 of 11
Michał Oleksiejczuk 30 of 65 46% 13 of 44 17 of 21 0 of 0 26 of 61 4 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 25 of 45 55% 12 of 29 10 of 13 3 of 3 13 of 31 5 of 7 7 of 7
Michał Oleksiejczuk 26 of 55 47% 12 of 38 14 of 17 0 of 0 22 of 51 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 9 of 10 90% 7 of 8 0 of 0 2 of 2 5 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 4
Michał Oleksiejczuk 4 of 10 40% 1 of 6 3 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Caio Borralho vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Borralho (-360), Oleksiejczuk (+295)

Round 1
Borralho has compiled three straight UFC victories after needing two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a contract with the promotion. He’s the biggest betting favorite on the card against Oleksiejczuk, who is coming off back-to-back first-round KO/TKO victories. Jason Herzog is the referee for the co-main event. Oleksiejczuk moves in and partially lands a big left. The Pole jabs the body but Borralho answers with a hard leg kick. Oleksiejczuk attacks the body again. The Pole ducks under a punch and lands a stiff counter. Borralho just misses on a jumping knee. Oleksiejczuk digs to the body and then tags Borralho with a two punch combination. Oleksiejczuk counters with a left after absorbing a leg kick. Borralho shoots for a single leg but Oleksiejczuk keeps his feet. They separate from the clinch and Oleksiejczuk wings an overhand that misses the mark. A right hook by Borralho stuns Oleksiejczuk for a moment. Borralho lands a knee and uppercut in the clinch. Oleksiejczuk sits down on an overhand left but Borralho takes it. The Pole with a right hook to the body before clinching. He throws a knee and Herzog calls time, determining that it landed low. Action resumes in short order. A jumping knee from Borralho but Oleksiejczuk is undeterred. A straight left from Oleksiejczuk tags the Brazilian . Oleksiejczuk stuffs a takedown but eats a knee in close. Borralho lands a left hand followed by an uppercut to the body. Borralho gets a takedown from the rear waistlock and he works his way around to the back near the fence. Oleksiejczuk is on all fours trying to survive the final seconds. Borralho lands a few knees to the body before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Borralho

Round 2
Oleksiejczuk pressures early and he jabs the body. Borralho lands a right hook to the head in response. Oleksiejczuk steps in with a straight left and Borralho answers with a pair of low kicks. Borralho times a double leg takedown perfectly but Oleksiejczuk returns to his feet immediately. Borralho peels the Pole off the fence and settles into half guard. The Brazilian passes to mount and drops a big elbow. Borralho controls one hand and peppers Oleksiejczuk with short lefts. Oleksiejczuk gives up his back and Borralho secures a body triangle. Borralho punches under the armpit and then the side of the head.
The Brazilian then swiftly slides his left arm under the chin of his foe and locks in the rear-naked choke. Oleksiejczuk taps in a matter of seconds.
Borralho has won four straight in the Octagon and has his first finish in UFC competition.

The Official Result
Caio Borralho def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:49
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody picks Borralho despite the high price, citing Borralho's superior grappling, wrestling, and cardio advantages. He notes that Borralho is a smart fighter with high ring IQ who will use his grappling to control the fight, even if it's not exciting. He acknowledges Oleksiejczuk's power and chance early, but believes Borralho's path to victory is clear through takedowns and control.

"I think Kyle will do the right thing which is use his grappling which is the easiest path to victory for him here so I do think he's gonna win"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Connor is unimpressed with Borralho's striking, calling it a 'paper tiger' with low activity and poor defense. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's chaotic pressure and durability will overwhelm Borralho, and that Borralho's takedown game won't be enough to control Oleksiejczuk for three rounds. He notes Oleksiejczuk's tendency to gas but believes Borralho lacks the discipline to exploit it.

Odds mentioned: Borralho opened -292, currently -338. Oleksiejczuk opened +248, currently +280.
"I am also going to pick Alex Sajak largely because Bihalyo hasn't lost yet."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean pick date unknown
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Paul is intrigued by Oleksiejczuk as a live underdog, noting his power and that he is a superior striker who can keep the fight standing. He points out that Oleksiejczuk has a history of first-round finishes and that Borralho has struggled to finish fights. Paul took a small bet on Oleksiejczuk by KO at +650, acknowledging the risk but seeing value.

Michał Oleksiejczuk by KO +650
"I found a Mikey Oh by KO plus 650 and I couldn't help myself I took a little dabble of that because that is wild and that's how he wins most of his fights"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Zane agrees with Connor, citing Borralho's poor striking and decision-making. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's pressure and scrambling will cause Borralho problems, and that Borralho's takedowns won't be enough to secure a win. He notes the odds are wide but sticks with his feeling that Oleksiejczuk can do real damage.

Same odds commentary as Connor.
"I am also going to pick Alex Sajak largely because Bihalyo hasn't lost yet."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev · Oct 22, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 14 of 35 40% 76 of 103 2 of 2 100% 0 1 4:44
Makhmud Muradov 0 19 of 32 59% 57 of 77 1 of 2 50% 2 3 5:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 7 of 20 35% 25 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:32
Makhmud Muradov 0 13 of 18 72% 17 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:36
2 Caio Borralho 0 1 of 5 20% 29 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:45
Makhmud Muradov 0 1 of 3 33% 12 of 14 0 of 0 --- 1 2 0:46
3 Caio Borralho 0 6 of 10 60% 22 of 27 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:27
Makhmud Muradov 0 5 of 11 45% 28 of 41 0 of 1 0% 1 1 3:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 14 of 35 40% 10 of 28 3 of 6 1 of 1 7 of 20 0 of 0 7 of 15
Makhmud Muradov 19 of 32 59% 13 of 23 1 of 4 5 of 5 10 of 23 0 of 0 9 of 9
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 7 of 20 35% 5 of 17 1 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 10 0 of 0 3 of 10
Makhmud Muradov 13 of 18 72% 9 of 13 1 of 2 3 of 3 6 of 11 0 of 0 7 of 7
2 Caio Borralho 1 of 5 20% 0 of 3 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1
Makhmud Muradov 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Caio Borralho 6 of 10 60% 5 of 8 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 4
Makhmud Muradov 5 of 11 45% 4 of 8 0 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo picks Caio Borralho, noting his slick grappling, well-timed takedowns, and solid submissions. He references that Gerald Meerschaert took down and submitted Muradov, and believes Borralho can do the same. He calls Borralho a contender at 185 and likes the -200 price.

"Kyle's the pick and at minus 200 which is what you can get him for right now I think that's still a decent price I love Kyle in this spot"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady picks Borralho to win by decision. He praises Borralho's fight IQ and game plan, expecting him to take Muradov down repeatedly as he did against Petrosian. Muradov has been submitted four times and gassed early in his last fight. Borralho has the cardio and grappling to control the fight, though a submission is possible.

"I think Kyle absolutely has you know the cardio the the fight IQ the game plan to go out there take this guy down rinse and repeat fight smart slow down the fight and ultimately win the decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody is high on Borralho, calling him a solid prospect with high ring IQ. He notes Borralho's effective grappling and ability to take down and control opponents. Cody thinks Muradov has cardio issues and is not a mega prospect. He expects Borralho to win by decision or submission.

Borralho by submission (+400 to +460)
"I really like Kyle this week and I think that the Price Is Right Out of minus 200"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Makhmud Muradov

Daniel Levi picks Makhmud Muradov as an underdog, citing recency bias from Muradov's loss to Gerald Meerschaert. He thinks Muradov's volume, technique, and takedown defense (stuffed two D1 wrestlers) will be too much for Caio Borralho. Levi notes Borralho fights with his hands down and may get jabbed up, and that Borralho has not faced someone with Muradov's striking. He bet 2 units at +190.

Bet 2 units at +190. Notes that the odds would be flipped if not for the Meerschaert loss.
"I actually bet uh makama murlov in this fight I took him two units at plus 190."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Borralho has a karate-style stance and blitzing movement that can keep him safe from Muradov's power. He can pressure Muradov, drain his gas tank, and grind in the clinch. Muradov is the better technical striker but has a sketchy gas tank. Borralho by decision is the pick, but the line at -200 is not sexy enough to bet heavily.

Borralho by decision; over 2.5 rounds
"I do think about Ohio with his grinding Style with his backpacking style especially if he can get the back of murder of he should be able to grind out precious minutes here and get some solid control time"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Paul is confident in Borralho, citing his slick ground game and ability to take down and submit opponents. He notes Muradov's poor takedown defense and cardio. Paul expects Borralho to get a rear-naked choke finish in round 2 or 3.

Borralho by submission (+400 to +460)
"Kyle by sub is plus 400 plus 460 is the highest out there"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho over Makhmud Muradov, citing Muradov's weakness against grapplers. He expects Borralho to tease stand-up early then blast a double leg and secure a rear-naked choke in the first round. He notes Borralho's training with Khamzat Chimaev and Darren Till as positives.

rear naked choke in the first round
"I feel as though calboro is going to get this one done by renaked choke"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev · Jul 09, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 12 of 25 48% 49 of 83 4 of 5 80% 0 0 10:09
Armen Petrosyan 0 31 of 61 50% 72 of 132 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 4 of 5 80% 14 of 23 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:24
Armen Petrosyan 0 1 of 2 50% 9 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Caio Borralho 0 2 of 8 25% 8 of 23 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:47
Armen Petrosyan 0 12 of 29 41% 22 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:26
3 Caio Borralho 0 6 of 12 50% 27 of 37 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:58
Armen Petrosyan 0 18 of 30 60% 41 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:53
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 12 of 25 48% 4 of 15 6 of 8 2 of 2 11 of 23 1 of 2 0 of 0
Armen Petrosyan 31 of 61 50% 2 of 19 3 of 9 26 of 33 16 of 40 0 of 0 15 of 21
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 4 of 5 80% 3 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Armen Petrosyan 1 of 2 50% 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 2 of 8 25% 0 of 5 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Armen Petrosyan 12 of 29 41% 1 of 12 1 of 3 10 of 14 9 of 23 0 of 0 3 of 6
3 Caio Borralho 6 of 12 50% 1 of 6 4 of 5 1 of 1 5 of 10 1 of 2 0 of 0
Armen Petrosyan 18 of 30 60% 1 of 7 2 of 5 15 of 18 6 of 15 0 of 0 12 of 15
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo picks Caio Borralho but with low confidence, noting the fight is closer than the 2-1 odds suggest. He highlights Borralho's slick grappling and takedowns, while Petrosyan is a high-volume kickboxer with questionable takedown defense. He acknowledges Petrosyan can win if he makes Borralho pay on grappling entries, as seen in his win over Gregory Rodrigues. He may switch his pick by fight week.

"Kyo is the pick here but I really don't see him being as big of a favorite as the books do... I may end up switching this pick by the end of the week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady confidently picks Caio Borralho, highlighting his superior wrestling and grappling. He notes that Petrosyan's takedown defense is non-existent and that he gives up his back frequently. Brady believes Borralho will take the fight to the mat, take Petrosyan's back, and finish via ground-and-pound or submission. He predicts a first-round finish, though he acknowledges Petrosyan has power and could win if the fight stays standing.

first round finish
"kyle first round finish let's go"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody likes Borralho's well-rounded skills and high fight IQ, but acknowledges Petrosyan's toughness and cardio. He thinks Borralho can bait Petrosyan in and get takedowns, where his grappling is superior. However, he's not highly confident because Petrosyan is a live underdog with a solid skill set.

Mentions Borralho over 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks.
"i'm gonna have to go with him to get the job done but not one that i would have a whole lot of confidence in not because i don't love chao i really do but because he's taking on somebody …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Armen Petrosyan

The host bets 1 unit on Armen Petrosyan at +196. He believes Petrosyan is a solid prospect who can deal with Borralho's game. He thinks the line has moved too far in Borralho's favor due to recency bias, and that Petrosyan's defensive grappling is excellent, allowing him to get back to his feet and work on the feet. He sees a potential knockout for Petrosyan. He notes that Petrosyan's takedown defense is not great but his defensive grappling is amazing.

Bet 1 unit at +196. Thinks Petrosyan could knock him out.
"I got one unit on Armin patrizia not plus 196. I feel pretty damn good about him cast him last time around that's not the only reason I'm betting him but I do think he's uh a solid Prospect here …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Paul agrees with Cody that Borralho is the pick, but he's not supremely confident. He notes that Petrosyan has been taken down multiple times in recent fights and that Borralho's path to victory is through takedowns and grappling. He mentions the over 1.5 takedowns prop on PrizePicks.

Mentions Borralho over 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks.
"i'm not supremely confident in kyo getting over uh you know two or more takedowns but i thought the number was a little bit low so that's how i've got my investment in this one"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The Guru picks Caio Borralho (referred to as Carballo/Kaubour), praising his grappling and size advantage. He notes Borralho out-grappled Gadzhi Omargadzhiev easily and believes he can take down Petrosyan. He predicts a decision win, with Borralho using his reach and transitions to control the fight.

decision win
"I'm going to be going with Carballo here."
Paul Craig - Fight History
KO R1 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Modestas Bukauskas 0 22 of 36 61% 29 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:50
Paul Craig 0 6 of 14 42% 30 of 39 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Modestas Bukauskas 0 22 of 36 61% 29 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:50
Paul Craig 0 6 of 14 42% 30 of 39 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Modestas Bukauskas 22 of 36 61% 18 of 30 0 of 0 4 of 6 10 of 17 0 of 0 12 of 19
Paul Craig 6 of 14 42% 0 of 4 2 of 3 4 of 7 5 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Modestas Bukauskas 22 of 36 61% 18 of 30 0 of 0 4 of 6 10 of 17 0 of 0 12 of 19
Paul Craig 6 of 14 42% 0 of 4 2 of 3 4 of 7 5 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bukauskas (-350); Craig (+280)

Round 1
The “featured fight of the night” slot is now occupied by a light heavyweight car crash in the form of Lithuania’s Bukauskas (18-6, 5-4 UFC) against “Bearjew” Craig (17-9-1, 1 NC; 9-9-1, 1 NC UFC). While Bukauskas celebrates a stoppage rate over 70%, Craig has still never needed the judges to get his hand raised after all these years. Referee Marc Goddard will keep things on the up-and-up here, and he stands back as the athletes come towards one another without touching gloves.
Bukauskas is able to get his hands on Craig early, scoring at the end of a left hand. Craig bounces off the fencing, and Bukauskas smacks him with a low kick. Craig whiffs on a high kick, and his calf is struck once more in response. Bukauskas charges with a flurry of punches and results in a clinch, which is where Craig would prefer to be. Bukauskas lands a few short clinch strikes, and he backs off and avoids a looping hook in time. Bukauskas goes back to his calf kick, with the two trading this particular blow until Craig spins at him with a back kick. Bukauskas skips forward to ding Craig with an overhand right, and he is driven back from a spinning kick to the ribs.
They land leg kicks on one another, and Bukauskas blocks a kick in time and is reminded of a past loss to Khalil Rountree when Craig stomps at his knee. Craig gets hold of Bukauskas and pushes him from one side of the Octagon to the other. Craig looks to trip Bukauskas up, and he tries to muscle his man down but Bukauskas is able to keep upright. Craig laces his leg between his foe’s, and he abandons the effort to knee the body a few times. Bukauskas turns him about and plants knees on his torso. Craig jumps guard, and he slides off Bukauskas and hits the ground. Bukauskas lets him hit the floor so he can rain down punches, and he elects to get into Craig’s guard. Bukauskas drums his opponent’s head off the canvas with his devastating ground-and-pound.
Craig turns to defend the strikes, and Bukauskas postures up and demolishes him with one of the most destructive elbows one could ever see or hear. The horn sounds, and Craig lifelessly slumps to his side. Goddard recognizes that Craig is out cold and waves the fight off as five minutes had elapsed.
Luckily for “Bearjew,” he is able to come to shortly thereafter, and he congratulates Bukauskas for sending him astral traveling. While Bukauskas celebrates his handiwork and calls for a top-15 opponent, Craig removes his gloves to signal his retirement, thanking everyone for the memories while noting that the young eat the old in this sport.

The Official Result
Modestas Bukauskas def. Paul Craig R1 5:00 via KO (Elbow)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Modestas Bukauskas

Angelo picks Modestas Bukauskas confidently, citing his versatile striking, takedown defense, and power. He believes Bukauskas will chop down Craig's legs and avoid his submission threats. He notes Craig's poor takedown entries and mediocre striking. He was swayed by Bukauskas' hype video showing his comeback.

"Modesus is going to be the pick. I think he kind of runs through Paul Craig to be honest with you."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Modestas Bukauskas

Big Brady picks Modestas Bukauskas, criticizing Paul Craig's recent point-fighting style. He believes Bukauskas can outstrike Craig from the outside and avoid his guard. He expects a boring decision win for Bukauskas, as Craig no longer wrestles or pulls guard effectively.

Bukauskas by decision
"Bukowskis for me, Bukowskis by decision. I think this fight's probably going to suck to be honest."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Modestas Bukauskas

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Bukauskas. He notes that Paul Craig is vulnerable everywhere—standing, on his back, and even on top—and that Bukauskas is a solid fighter who can win without engaging on the ground. He emphasizes that Craig's fragility makes him likely to get hurt in exchanges.

"Paul Craig's fragility is always going to be there. Craig is always going to be the more likely guy to get extremely badly hurt in any exchange."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Modestas Bukauskas

The host believes Bukauskas can utilize his striking advantage to keep Craig at bay, touch him up from distance, and avoid overextending to prevent takedowns. He expects Bukauskas to win on the scorecards.

"I think this is a fight where Bukowskis can utilize his striking advantage to keep Craig at bay, touch him up from distance and may not overextend too much here in hopes of not getting taken down."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Modestas Bukauskas

The Guru picks Modestas Bukauskas, criticizing Paul Craig's lack of improvement in standup over a decade. He believes Bukauskas' pressure and straight rights will catch Craig early. He predicts a first-round TKO, noting Bukauskas' ability to cut off the cage and land devastating shots.

first round TKO
"I'm going with Modestus Picowskus and I'm going to say that he finishes this in round one."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Modestas Bukauskas

Zane picks Bukauskas easily, noting that Paul Craig's striking is a mess and his takedown accuracy is poor. He believes Bukauskas can keep the fight standing and hurt Craig, or take him down and control him without getting submitted. He calls the fight unnecessary but sees Bukauskas as a solid functional fighter who should win.

"Got to pick Modestus Bukauskis and this fight just didn't, doesn't need to be, it doesn't need to exist."
NC R1 4:59 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paul Craig 0 17 of 27 62% 40 of 52 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:34
Rodolfo Bellato 0 10 of 20 50% 16 of 27 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:55
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paul Craig 0 17 of 27 62% 40 of 52 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:34
Rodolfo Bellato 0 10 of 20 50% 16 of 27 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:55
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paul Craig 17 of 27 62% 7 of 16 10 of 11 0 of 0 14 of 23 2 of 3 1 of 1
Rodolfo Bellato 10 of 20 50% 2 of 11 2 of 2 6 of 7 9 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paul Craig 17 of 27 62% 7 of 16 10 of 11 0 of 0 14 of 23 2 of 3 1 of 1
Rodolfo Bellato 10 of 20 50% 2 of 11 2 of 2 6 of 7 9 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bellato (-375), Craig (+295)

Round 1
What was previously booked a few weeks ago fell apart due to a sudden outbreak of cold sores for the favored man. The UFC puts it back together, knowing that if light heavyweight co-headliner goes all 15 minutes, something may have gone horribly wrong between these two ludicrously aggressive fighters. In their combined 29 wins, they have just one decision between them. Craig (17-9-1, 9-9-1 UFC) still celebrates his gaudy 100% finish rate, while Bellato (12-2-1, 1-0-1 UFC) went the distance for the LFA title that springboarded him to DWCS. Referee Kevin MacDonald dons his proverbial hard hat for this explosive contest, and the fighters decide to bump their large fists together before going for broke. Bellato resides in the center of the age, pump-faking and feinting but not throwing anything. Instead, Craig lands first, in the form of a hefty body kick. Bellato swings and misses with huge hooks that might have dome some serious damage, and he is not messing around early. Bellato chips at the lead leg and jabs the midsection, getting met with a body kick on the way out. Bellato’s leg kick finds its home again, and his right hand is wound up ready to strike. Instead, the Brazilian clinches, and he bounces out and rocks Craig with a right hand. Craig responds with a spinning back kick to the breadbasket, and he takes some of the sting off a front kick aimed at his chest. Craig spins with another back kick that lands flush, and he jabs and shoots for a takedown that does not come. Bellato stays focused on welting up the Scot’s front leg, and he ignores a left hand so he can prepare for a takedown that comes. Bellato stuffs it and wings a right hand, and the looping hook buzzes past Craig’s beard. Bellato takes two more body kicks, nods and stalks “Bearjew” down. Craig rips another kick to the ribs, and he spins with a back kick and drops down for a single. Bellato frames off and keeps his balance, forcing Craig to sell out and drop down for it while pushing the heavy betting favorite against the wall. Craig trips Bellato up, and as if he had springs in his shorts, Bellato bounces off the mat to get back to his feet. Craig ducks a huge punch and goes after a takedown, but Bellato bowls him over and lands heavily in half guard. Bellato flirts with an arm-triangle setup, retaining heavy chest pressure to not allow Craig to do something off his back. Bellato postures up and stands up with 10 seconds to go, smacking Craig with a low kick and diving down.
Craig pushes off of him and belts Bellato with a brutal upkick while Bellato’s right knee is down. The stunner of an upkick knocks Bellato clean out, who collapses to his back. After a few seconds he snaps back to consciousness and looks terrified, eyes wide as dinner plates, and he scurries towards the wall to defend himself from an unknown threat.
Still not knowing where he is, Bellato seats himself against the fence, and when MacDonald approaches him, Bellato tries to grapple him and even attempts a leglock. MacDonald calmly, professionally informs Bellato that he got knocked out, and calls for a replay to determine the legality of the blow. It is clear the fight is over and that Bellato will not be able to continue, so the only question is whether MacDonald will declare this fight result a disqualification or a no contest. Meanwhile, virtual judge Devin Tejada specifically requested that his round score of a 10-6 in favor of Craig be declared here even though the round did not end. This is a rough situation, one that merits this match be booked one more time in a few months.

The Official Result
Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato is Ruled a No Contest (Illegal Upkick) R1 4:59
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Angelo picks Bellato because Paul Craig is not very good and has no evolution in his game. He notes that Bellato should win by keeping his elbows in on the ground and bombing away on the feet. He warns that Craig is dangerous on the ground but Bellato should avoid getting submitted.

"Ralph Bolato should absolutely win this fight. Paul Craig's not very good."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Big Brady picks Rodolfo Bellato by second-round knockout. He notes that Paul Craig is near retirement and has struggled at middleweight. He warns that Craig is dangerous on the ground but believes Bellato can keep the fight standing and knock him out, as long as he treats the ground like lava.

second round knockout
"I'll say Botato by second round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Connor sees Bellato as a steady, consistent puncher who doesn't break down easily. He expects Bellato to slowly steamroll Paul Craig, who is older and has not improved. Connor predicts a second-round TKO, noting Bellato's ability to maintain pressure and recover from damage.

Bellato by second round TKO
"So Hidalgo, Balato, probably by second round TKO."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Bellato will keep the fight upright and use his striking to damage Craig, eventually finding a knockout within two rounds. He is not expected to attempt a submission.

round 1-2 knockout
"I think he'll just look to utilize his big power and get Craig out of there within two rounds."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

The Guru picks Rodolfo Bellato, despite being a former Paul Craig supporter. He doubts Craig's chin and offensive intent, noting Craig struggled against Bo Nickal. He highlights Bellato's training with Luke Rockhold for grappling and expects a first-round TKO, as Bellato should be safe on the feet if he doesn't shoot into Craig's guard.

Rodolfo Bellato by first-round TKO
"I'm going to go over Balato. Hurts me to say it because I was a Paul Craig meme supporter for a long time. ... I think he's going to lose to Rulo Balato."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Zane agrees with Connor that Bellato is the clear favorite. He notes that Bellato is a capable round-to-round puncher who doesn't wear out easily, and that Paul Craig has not improved despite changing weight classes. Zane thinks Bellato's steady pressure will be too much for Craig.

"And that just feels like too much for Paul Craig at this point in his career."
CANCEL vs Rodolfo Bellato
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paul Craig 0 17 of 27 62% 40 of 52 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:34
Rodolfo Bellato 0 10 of 20 50% 16 of 27 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:55
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paul Craig 0 17 of 27 62% 40 of 52 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:34
Rodolfo Bellato 0 10 of 20 50% 16 of 27 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:55
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paul Craig 17 of 27 62% 7 of 16 10 of 11 0 of 0 14 of 23 2 of 3 1 of 1
Rodolfo Bellato 10 of 20 50% 2 of 11 2 of 2 6 of 7 9 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paul Craig 17 of 27 62% 7 of 16 10 of 11 0 of 0 14 of 23 2 of 3 1 of 1
Rodolfo Bellato 10 of 20 50% 2 of 11 2 of 2 6 of 7 9 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Angelo picks Rodolfo Bellato by knockout, stating that Paul Craig's wrestling is too poor to get the fight to the ground where he is dangerous, and his chin is too weak to stay in the pocket. He notes that Bellato is a heavy-handed grappler who will come forward and bomb away. Angelo also mentions that Bellato is incredibly handsome, adding a humorous note.

Angelo predicts a knockout win for Bellato.
"This should be a Batto knockout all day long."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

Big Brady picks Rodolfo Bellato, noting he is a black belt and the better striker with good power. He acknowledges Paul Craig's comeback ability but thinks Bellato's takedown defense and striking advantage lead to a second-round knockout.

Bellato by KO, round 2
"I'll take Bolato to win. I think he's going to knock out Paul Craig. I think he's going to do it in the second round."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

The host is surprised Bellato is such a big favorite, noting he is not super technical and Craig could pull off a submission. However, he leans with Bellato due to better hardware, good durability, and great cardio, expecting him to outdamage Craig and find a finish in the second or third round. He would not pay minus 500 on a fighter like this.

Bellato by KO/TKO in rounds 2-3; odds comment: wouldn't pay -500
"I'm still gonna lean with Bellto as I think he has a little bit better hardware, good durability and great cardio and that should allow him to outdamage Paul Craig, shut down the submission attempts and eventually find the finish …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Rodolfo Bellato

The Guru picks Rodolfo Bellato, calling him strong and durable with nice hands. He notes Bellato has been working with Luke Rockhold on grappling. He criticizes Paul Craig's game as limited (bad double leg, body kick, imanari roll) and thinks Craig has had his day. He predicts Bellato by TKO.

Craig is +390 underdog; Guru likes the odds for Craig but still picks Bellato
"I'm going with Rulo Balato. I'm sorry. So sorry."
LOSS vs Bo Nickal
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic · Nov 16, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bo Nickal 0 54 of 85 63% 54 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 0 47 of 129 36% 48 of 130 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bo Nickal 0 16 of 31 51% 16 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 0 13 of 35 37% 14 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Bo Nickal 0 22 of 26 84% 22 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 0 21 of 48 43% 21 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Bo Nickal 0 16 of 28 57% 16 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 0 13 of 46 28% 13 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bo Nickal 54 of 85 63% 24 of 50 13 of 16 17 of 19 54 of 85 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 47 of 129 36% 21 of 93 14 of 23 12 of 13 47 of 129 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bo Nickal 16 of 31 51% 5 of 17 3 of 5 8 of 9 16 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 13 of 35 37% 4 of 24 4 of 6 5 of 5 13 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Bo Nickal 22 of 26 84% 10 of 13 8 of 9 4 of 4 22 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 21 of 48 43% 11 of 33 8 of 12 2 of 3 21 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Bo Nickal 16 of 28 57% 9 of 20 2 of 2 5 of 6 16 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 13 of 46 28% 6 of 36 2 of 5 5 of 5 13 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Paul Craig vs. Bo Nickal
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nickal (-1100), Craig (+700)

Round 1
A pair of middleweights with 100% finish rates throw down in a clash that could find the winner with a number next to their name come Tuesday. Nickal (6-0, 3-0 UFC) has not encountered much opposition in the cage thus far as a pro, while Craig (17-8-1, 9-8-1 UFC) cannot say the same. Referee Dan Miragliotta is the third man in the Octagon for this one. There is no touch of gloves. Nickal starts out the initial aggressor, faking takedowns and tossing out a front kick. Nickal comes up short on a reaching left hand, and he changes stances to find another look. Craig absorbs a heavy calf kick, and he keeps his guard up to block a huge swinging left hand. Nickal chops at the front leg two more times as Craig walks him down, and Craig lets loose a body kick. Nickal absorbs a knee on the chin and a left hand, and a hard Craig leg kick makes Nickal take a funny step. Both men unload with power punches at the same time and glance off one another, and Nickal chambers and fires a huge right hand that misses. Craig checks a kick and fires off one that ricochets off the raised guard, and he has a second also blocked. Craig raises his leg as a body shield, and Nickal is unable to get his hands on him. Nickal reaches out with a side kick and a left hand, and Craig kicks him twice in response. Nickal wings another left hand, reaching out far and landing with a glancing blow. Craig checks a kick and slides back to not let Nickal get to him. Craig spins with a fake kick, and he slides back as Nickal aims a body shot. Craig pump-fakes several kicks until letting one loose, and Nickal doubles up on the left hook. Craig jabs his way in, and he starts talking to the unbeaten fighter. Nickal has one kick checked, and the second is not. Craig throws a kick that grazes the shoulder, and he rolls with a right hand that buzzes his hair. Nickal absorbs a right hand on the chin, which holds up well as he backpedals. Craig gets drilled with a left hook, and Nickal pitches another fastball that gives Craig brief pause. Craig again brings up a knee to intercept Nickal, and he chops at the front leg of his foe. Craig kicks his foe in the gloves, and the close round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Craig
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nickal
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Craig

Round 2
Between rounds, Craig tells his corner how much fun he is having in the cage, grinning from ear to ear. The two start off the round again, with Craig jabbing his way forward into a head kick that comes up short. Craig kicks with his other leg, and he almost falls over but manages to keep his balance. Nickal has a huge right hand come over the top, and he has a kick caught. Craig chatters to his adversary, and Nickal does not change his expression. Nickal scores at the end of a left hand, and Craig responds with a right hand and keeps on talking. Craig swats away Nickal’s outstretched hand, whipping a kick to the guard. Nickal aims a body shot and goes over the top with a left hand, and Craig’s eyes open up a bit wider. Craig blocks a body kick with his knee, and Nickal jabs him in the chest and blasts him with an overhand right. Craig swarms forward with two punches and a high front kick, and he flicks out a jab. Nickal scores a body shot, and he cannot quite block the body kick that comes back his direction. Craig just misses with an uppercut as Nickal ducks down, and he takes a left hand on the chin. Craig lets fly two kicks and eats a body shot on the way back, with Nickal swinging hard with his left hand. The Scot checks a kick and talks to his opponent, and after they shadowbox, he lets fly one more body kick. Nickal winds up with a left hand and thumps his man in the chin, and Craig’s responsive elbow misses by a tiny margin. Craig sticks out a left and then a right, and he launches a body kick that hammers into the wrestler’s arms. Nickal splits the guard with a left and is disciplined enough to block the body kick he knows his coming at him, and he shells up to defend against a second. Nickal steps in with a right hand and catches Craig with a second, and the two both smack one another before the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nickal
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nickal
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Nickal

Round 3
The fighters meet in the middle to start the final frame, and Craig is the one marching forward first. After about 20 seconds, Craig tosses a half-hearted low kick, and Nickal counters him with a heavy right hand over the guard. Craig uses a side kick to push off, and he blocks a body kick. Nickal considers a takedown but abandons it, and he steps back as Craig’s leg whizzes past him. Nickal stands still and lets Craig walk around him, and he laughs and claps hands with his confused foe. Craig kicks the front leg twice, and he aims his shin at the chest after Nickal changes stances. Craig rifles a right hand down the pipe, and Nickal kicks him in the lead leg to respond. Nickal fakes a level change, and the audience showers the fighters with boos for their sparring match. Craig lets loose a high kick, and Nickal thanks him by clapping him on the side of the head with a right hook. Nickal skirts away, blocking a head kick and clipping Craig with a huge left hand. Craig grabs his eye, which starts swelling immediately and he backs up to the cage wall. Nickal corners him but picks his shots very carefully, and he does not engage with more than a right hook. Nickal springs away from a high kick and wings a left hand on the damaged eye, further hurting the Scot. Nickal kicks the front leg and dances away from danger, zipping in and out without much concern of reprisal. Craig jabs a few times, whiffs on a head kick and a front kick. Nickal rips a left to the body, and Craig starts pointing at him as the fans chant “overrated” at Nickal. Craig checks a kick, and Nickal draws his foot back uncomfortably. With seconds to spare, the Penn State wrestler sells out with haymakers, dinging Craig again and eating one in response. The disappointment of a fight comes to an end, and Nickal mimes swinging a golf club and goes over to talk to President-elect Donald Trump, who has been in the building since the end of the prelims.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nickal (29-28 Nickal)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nickal (30-27 Nickal)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Nickal (29-28 Nickal)

The Official Result
Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Angelo picks Bo Nickal, calling it a clear win. He notes Nickal's elite wrestling and that Paul Craig is dangerous on the ground but Nickal can grapple with anyone. He speculates Nickal might test his striking since Craig is not dangerous on the feet. He is unsure about betting due to uncertainty over method of victory.

"B Nichols the clear as day pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Big Brady picks Bo Nickal by first-round knockout, agreeing with Paul Craig that Nickal should keep the fight standing. He notes that Craig is chinny and has been knocked out multiple times, while Nickal has quick hands and power. He believes Nickal will follow Kyle Daukaus' blueprint and knock out Craig early. He also likes the under on 1.5 takedowns for Nickal on PrizePicks.

less than 1.5 takedowns
"I like b nickel here I think he wins this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Cody picks Bo Nickal by submission, citing Nickal's elite wrestling and positional dominance. He notes Paul Craig is a one-trick pony with a suspect chin and weak wrestling, and that Nickal can take the fight wherever he wants. Cody expects Nickal to submit Craig, possibly with a rear-naked choke.

submission
"Bo Nichols sub is my official pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Connor also picks Nickal but is hesitant, acknowledging that Craig's submission game is dangerous. He thinks Nickal's wrestling and athleticism will allow him to scramble and wear Craig out, but Craig could catch him in a submission if Nickal gets too aggressive. Connor is interested in the fight as a test for Nickal.

Nickal wins via decision or late TKO; potential for Craig submission
"I'm gonna pick bone nickel. Yeah, me too because the athleticism is there..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Paul Craig

Vreeland picks Craig as a big underdog because he sees value in Craig's submission threat. He notes Craig subbed Magomed Ankalaev and that Bo Nickal is still inexperienced in Jiu-Jitsu. Vreeland thinks Craig can catch a guillotine on one of Nickal's takedowns or take his back. He also points out that Nickal took over 8 minutes to finish Cody Brundage, suggesting he is not invincible.

"I think there's at least a seven to one chance that that happens... give me Paul Craig"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Daniel Vreeland picks Bo Nickal, acknowledging Paul Craig's impressive submission wins but believing Nickal's wrestling credentials and grappling ability will neutralize Craig's game. He thinks Nickal can keep the fight standing or on the ground and avoid Craig's submissions. He calls it a 'boring' pick but sees Nickal as the clear favorite.

"I'm going to be boring and pick the minus 10,000 favorite"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Fox picks Nickal, citing his athleticism, youth, and wrestling as a cheat code. He believes Craig has no chance against a wrestler of Nickal's caliber. Fox acknowledges the line is steep but is confident Nickal will win.

"obviously the uh athleticism Youth and strength is is a cheat code and um yeah this point in his career uh Craig does not really have a chance here"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Lucrative James confidently picks Bo Nickal, the massive -1000 favorite. He believes Nickal's wrestling can dictate where the fight goes, and even if he shoots takedowns into Craig's guard, he can dominate from top position. He thinks Nickal is smart enough to keep it standing and knock Craig out, or slam him and finish on the ground. He notes Craig's dangerous submissions but feels Nickal will stay safe and win inside the distance, likely in round one.

wins inside the distance, wins in round one
"I think Bo is probably going to stay safe on top so even in Paul Craig's most dangerous realm which is most likely the ground here I still think Bo is going to win that fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

The host expects Nickal to utilize his striking more effectively, looking for a knockout rather than going into Craig's dangerous guard. However, he notes the plus 200 submission prop on Nickal is worth considering. He officially picks Nickal by knockout.

submission prop at +200
"I do think he'll utilize his striking a little bit more effectively here looking for that knockout against Craig rather than going into the guard which is so dangerous of Craigs although I would not be surprised if Niko wants …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Paul picks Bo Nickal by knockout, arguing Craig is chinny and has been knocked out in four of his last five losses. He expects Nickal to take Craig down, soften him with ground and pound, and eventually knock him out as Craig tires. Paul likes the under 1.5 rounds.

under 1.5 rounds, knockout
"I'm personally lean towards the knockout I think Bo just Cooks him with a shot as he gets tired"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

The MMA Guru picks Bo Nickal, expecting a first-round KO. He acknowledges Paul Craig's submission threat but believes Nickal's wrestling and striking will overwhelm Craig. He notes Nickal's early finishes and thinks Craig's limited striking will be exposed.

first round KO
"I think b nickel is going to knock out Paul Craig on the feet in round one"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean pick date unknown
Bo Nickal

Zane picks Nickal but is not confident, noting that Nickal is raw and was coached through basic grappling in his last fight. He thinks Nickal's athleticism and scrambling ability will wear out Craig, but Craig's submission threat is real. Zane finds the fight interesting because it's a genuine test for Nickal.

Nickal wins via decision or late TKO; potential for Craig submission if Nickal makes a mistake
"I'm gonna pick bone nickel. Yeah, me too because the athleticism is there..."
LOSS vs Caio Borralho
KO (punches) R2 2:10 · UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg · May 04, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 0 22 of 48 45% 22 of 50 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:30
Paul Craig 1 36 of 50 72% 43 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 15 of 29 51% 15 of 31 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:30
Paul Craig 0 20 of 30 66% 27 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
2 Caio Borralho 0 7 of 19 36% 7 of 19 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 1 16 of 20 80% 16 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 22 of 48 45% 4 of 19 12 of 23 6 of 6 22 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 36 of 50 72% 29 of 41 3 of 5 4 of 4 35 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 15 of 29 51% 3 of 9 8 of 16 4 of 4 15 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 20 of 30 66% 14 of 22 2 of 4 4 of 4 19 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 7 of 19 36% 1 of 10 4 of 7 2 of 2 7 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 16 of 20 80% 15 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 16 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo is confident in Borralho, calling Paul Craig overrated and noting he can be finished. He expects Borralho to dominate and possibly finish Craig. He suggests waiting for prop bets.

Angelo says 'let's wait for the props to see what juice we can get going'
"Kyle baral is going to win this fight he should dominate here he should finish Paul Craig"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady sees Borralho as the much better striker and believes he will knock out Craig. He notes Craig's poor chin and recent damage taken. He predicts Borralho will take his time and finish Craig in the second round.

"I think Kyle knocks him out I think Kyle B gets his first UFC knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody picks Borralho, citing his superior wrestling, cardio, and durability. He notes Craig relies on submission magic but is poor defensively and has been neutralized by good grapplers. Cody expects Borralho to control the fight and win by decision or TKO.

"I think Kyle wins and maybe by decision..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland agrees with Jeff Fox on Caio Borralho. He emphasizes that Borralho is a great striker, noting his Contender Series wins over Aaron Jeffery and Jesse Murray were striking performances. Vreeland thinks people forget Borralho's striking because he is Brazilian and assumed to be a jiu-jitsu specialist. He believes Borralho can finish Paul Craig on the feet or on the ground, as Craig is a BJJ specialist but Borralho has the skills to avoid submissions and wear him down. Vreeland also mentions Craig's cardio concerns at middleweight.

"I think people forget that when Kai oh came to the UFC because he's Brazilian people are like oh yeah Jiu-Jitsu but like he came into the UFC with a couple of big striking performan is I think we can …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland picks Borralho by decision, citing his superior jiu-jitsu (Damaian Maya black belt) and well-rounded game. He notes that Craig's only path is submission, but Borralho's grappling defense should neutralize that. He highlights Borralho's decision-heavy record and suggests the decision prop at +200 as a better value than the -600 moneyline.

Borralho by decision +200
"I think Kyle's gonna win this one by decision and right now the money line on Kyle is what did we say was it minus 600 again yes sir but the decision Props Plus 200"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Jeff Fox picks Caio Borralho despite the steep -550 line. He notes that Borralho has the striking ability to keep the fight standing and potentially knock out Paul Craig, as Borralho stated in an interview. Fox also believes Borralho can replicate what Brendan Allen did on the ground, as he has the pressure and submission defense to avoid Craig's submissions early and wear him down. He questions Craig's cardio at middleweight, noting he appeared to quit in the Allen fight. Fox also highlights Borralho's underrated striking, pointing to his Contender Series performances where he beat Aaron Jeffery on the feet and knocked out Jesse Murray.

Borralho by KO/TKO +250 mentioned as a prop later in the show
"I love C Ohio yeah negative 550 not run into the ticket counter with it but uh yeah I'm still picking him here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Borralho is superior everywhere and is one of the hottest Brazilian prospects. He will use grappling defensively early, chip away at Craig, and possibly find a knockout. If Craig slows down, Borralho will take him down and smash from top position. Borralho finishes within two or three rounds.

finish within two or three rounds
"look for bajayo to finish this fight within two or three rounds"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Paul picks Borralho, emphasizing his superior grappling, wrestling, and durability. He believes Craig's only path is a submission, but Borralho's BJJ black belt and top control will neutralize that. Paul expects Borralho to stuff takedowns and ground-and-pound.

Borralho by KO/TKO
"I'm thinking he knocks him out... he just stuffs him and gets on top of him and puts a beating on."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho, predicting a first-round knockout via a stiff jab. He believes Borralho is a well-rounded, big middleweight with enough takedown defense to keep the fight standing, where Craig is less dangerous. He notes Borralho's recent wins over Abus Magomedov and Maxime Gremont, and expects him to chin Craig early.

first minute or two of the fight he chins Paul Craig and puts him away
"I'm going to go with baralo with a jab knocks down Craig and puts him away"
LOSS vs Brendan Allen
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 0:38 · UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig · Nov 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brendan Allen 0 32 of 43 74% 52 of 64 2 of 2 100% 2 0 7:58
Paul Craig 0 6 of 14 42% 13 of 21 0 of 2 0% 1 0 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brendan Allen 0 14 of 19 73% 20 of 26 2 of 2 100% 1 0 2:49
Paul Craig 0 3 of 8 37% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:34
2 Brendan Allen 0 14 of 19 73% 28 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 4:47
Paul Craig 0 1 of 3 33% 4 of 6 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Brendan Allen 0 4 of 5 80% 4 of 5 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:22
Paul Craig 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brendan Allen 32 of 43 74% 26 of 37 3 of 3 3 of 3 12 of 17 1 of 2 19 of 24
Paul Craig 6 of 14 42% 3 of 10 1 of 1 2 of 3 6 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brendan Allen 14 of 19 73% 9 of 14 2 of 2 3 of 3 6 of 9 1 of 2 7 of 8
Paul Craig 3 of 8 37% 0 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 3 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Brendan Allen 14 of 19 73% 14 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 16
Paul Craig 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Brendan Allen 4 of 5 80% 3 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Brendan Allen vs. Paul Craig
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-410), Craig (+320)

Round 1
At long last, we have reached the main event. Five rounds or less will decide a much-needed contender in the wide-open middleweight division. Two exceptionally talented and dangerous grapplers will ply their trade against one another, and referee Mark Smith will almost certainly get involved before it is said and done. Allen (22-5, 10-2 UFC) is aiming to add to his five-fight win streak, while Craig (17-6-1, 9-6-1 UFC) introduced himself to his lighter weight category by wrecking Andre Muniz in July. Before they inflict all sorts of violence on one another, they come together and stare down, but Craig does not want to touch gloves. They begin, and Craig leads with a low kick. Allen comes back with two punches, and he lands his own leg kick. Allen swings with everything he has, and he nearly topples over when missing. The two trade jabs, and Allen digs one to the breadbasket. They crash together, and Craig looks for a possible level change only to be met with a knee. Craig presses his man to the wall, and he drops down for a possible takedown. Allen stands him up before anything comes of it, but Craig is pressing him tightly against the wire. Allen knees the body and throws Craig over his hips, where he lands in full mount. Craig turns to his side, and Allen hammers him with a few punches and an elbow. Allen gets pulled back to half guard, and he is warned for hooking his toes in the fence. Allen hunts for an arm-triangle choke with pure chest and shoulder pressure, and Craig pushes both of his hands on Allen’s face to stop it. Allen isolates an arm and sneaks around to get the rear-naked choke, but Craig defends brilliantly with a calf slicer. Allen wrenches his leg out and turns around, and he attacks Craig’s ankle to keep him honest. Craig stands back up, and Allen slams him right back down to the mat. Allen smashes down with an elbow, and he cuts Craig’s eyebrow. The horn sounds, and Allen mocks him as they stand up.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 2
The middleweights meander towards one another to start off Round 2, and Allen sits down on a one-two that rocks Craig. Craig weebles and wobbles but does not fall down, and manages to catch Allen with his own right hook on the way. Craig shoots to save his chin, and Allen bowls him over and drives down an elbow. Allen frustrates his opponent with top control and sporadic elbows, and blood flows out of the corner of Craig’s eye. Allen looks for an arm-triangle choke and he steps into full mount, and Craig is in trouble but rolls to his side to break it up. “Bearjew” lands a few heel strikes to the thigh, and Allen answers him with elbows and a few smacking fists. Allen rails Craig with another elbow, and the cut on Craig’s eyebrow splits further. Craig maintains butterfly hooks, and Allen makes his life terrible with elbow after unanswered elbow. Craig throws his legs up to threaten with something, anything he can find, and Allen shucks them to the side and elbows Craig in the busted eye. Allen stacks his man up and gets illegally upkicked, and Smith warns Craig of the fouls. Allen hunts for another arm-triangle choke, and Craig is wise to it and defends before it comes together. Allen sneaks a guillotine under the chin when Craig sits up, and Craig keeps his back against the fence to stop his foe from getting the right leverage. Allen takes Craig’s back with seconds to go, and he looks for another rear-naked choke to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 3
The middleweights reach Round 3, and Allen starts off with his striking. Allen rips a left to the body and rings Craig’s bell with a left up top, and he jumps over Craig and snatches up a guillotine choke. Craig turns well enough to stop the choke from getting locked down, but he turns the wrong way.
Allen sees the opening and snatches it up in an instant, piggybacking Craig and wrapping up a rear-naked choke with practically zero setup. The RNC aficionado—Allen has won his last three fights with this submission—secures it under the chin and it is now a matter of time. The Scot thinks about going out on his shield, but he taps one time on the forearm to signal that he has been defeated.
Smith is right on top of the action and pulls them apart, and Allen confidently nods and calls for a big fight. On his post-fight interview, Allen asks for any top contender, no matter who they put in front of him, and he celebrates with his daughter in his arms. Allen asks her who won, and all smiles, she replies “Da da!” The UFC will be on break for a week, and fight fans in the U.S. will take the time off and celebrate Thanksgiving. When the UFC is back in December, we will be there, and we hope you are too.

The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Paul Craig R3 0:38 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Brendan Allen

Angelo is very confident in Brendan Allen, citing his five-fight win streak and well-rounded game. He notes Allen has better striking and wrestling than Paul Craig, and is putting everything together at the right time. He has bets on Allen and expects him to win.

Has bets on Allen
"I still like Brendan here I think he's putting everything together at the exact right time in his career I have him winning this fight I am very confident"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Brendan Allen

Big Brady thinks the odds are silly because Paul Craig is always a live dog with his guard-pulling submissions. He questions Allen's fight IQ, expecting him to grapple despite the smarter path being striking. He picks Allen to win by submission, possibly a club and sub, but notes Craig is dangerous and can never be counted out. He says Allen has more ways to win but the fight could get tricky.

"I got to go Allen here I'll pick him to win this fight by submission maybe a club and sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Brendan Allen

Cody picks Brendan Allen confidently, citing his significant advantages on the feet and well-rounded grappling. He notes that Paul Craig's only path is a submission via pulling guard, but Allen's top control and BJJ training make that unlikely. Cody mentions the line is wide but expects Allen to smash Craig, possibly by TKO. He acknowledges Craig's opportunistic submission game but sees Allen as too well-rounded.

Craig by submission at +650 is mentioned as a possible sprinkle, but Cody does not endorse it.
"I'm picking him to win I think he should absolutely Flatline uh Craig"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Brendan Allen

Allen is the far superior striker with improved striking defense and a dangerous submission game. Craig has sketchy striking and relies on Jiu-Jitsu, but Allen can keep the fight standing and pick him apart. Allen will eventually find a TKO after posturing up with ground and pound, likely in the second or third round.

win by TKO
"I expect Allen to eventually get his hand raised and I think he's going to do it inside the distance give me Brendan Allen I'm going to say TKO after he's able to posture up and get some big shots …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Brendan Allen

Paul agrees with Cody, fading Paul Craig as usual. He acknowledges Craig's magic touch and opportunistic submissions but notes that Craig's wins come against opponents with glaring weaknesses. Brendan Allen is young, well-rounded, and trains at a top gym. Paul highlights Allen's submission win over Andre Muniz and his ability to wrestle, grapple, and strike. He sees Craig's suspect gas tank as a liability in a five-round fight and expects Allen to win, likely by TKO.

Paul mentions Craig by submission at +650 as a possible bet but does not recommend it.
"I'm going to agree but how many times have we sat here and talk about how Paul Craig's probably going to get smashed"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Brendan Allen

The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen to win by TKO at the end of round one after grappling exchanges. He believes Allen is a better jiu-jitsu player than Andre Muniz and has better takedown defense. He praises Allen's striking, including kicks and boxing, and notes his finishes over Bruno Silva and Krzysztof Jotko. He criticizes Paul Craig's standup and chin, and thinks Allen will land on him.

TKO end of round one
"I'm going to go Brendan Allen over Paul Craig... I think he's a better jiu-jitsu guy than Andre Muniz... I'm going to go with Brendan Allen getting this one done by TKO end of round one after some grappling exchanges …"
WIN vs André Muniz
TKO (elbows) R2 4:40 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paul Craig 0 40 of 82 48% 54 of 101 2 of 2 100% 1 0 2:56
André Muniz 0 24 of 40 60% 31 of 47 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paul Craig 0 9 of 25 36% 10 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Muniz 0 13 of 23 56% 15 of 25 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
2 Paul Craig 0 31 of 57 54% 44 of 75 2 of 2 100% 1 0 2:56
André Muniz 0 11 of 17 64% 16 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paul Craig 40 of 82 48% 31 of 66 8 of 15 1 of 1 10 of 32 0 of 0 30 of 50
André Muniz 24 of 40 60% 15 of 30 2 of 3 7 of 7 15 of 27 1 of 1 8 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paul Craig 9 of 25 36% 1 of 10 7 of 14 1 of 1 9 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
André Muniz 13 of 23 56% 4 of 13 2 of 3 7 of 7 13 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Paul Craig 31 of 57 54% 30 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 7 0 of 0 30 of 50
André Muniz 11 of 17 64% 11 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 1 of 1 8 of 12
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
André Muniz

Angelo is split between gut and brain. His gut leans toward Paul Craig's toughness and power, but his brain says Muniz has better wrestling and control. He notes Muniz looked old in his last fight but still gives a slight lean to Muniz because he can control with wrestling. He disagrees with the 2-1 odds on Muniz.

"the ever the slightest lean in the history of liens right now is probably towards Andre Muniz because he can control with the wrestling"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
André Muniz

Big Brady picks André Muniz to win by first-round submission. He notes Muniz is a much better grappler than Craig, who relies on triangles off his back. He thinks Muniz can take Craig down and submit him, or knock him out on the feet. He mentions Craig's move to middleweight may affect his chin. He is confident Muniz has multiple paths to victory.

first round submission
"give me money is to win this fight I'll say he takes down Paul Craig kind of runs right through him here first round sub for Andre minis in this one"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
André Muniz

Cody thinks Muniz is a terrible matchup for Craig, with superior BJJ and better striking. He questions Craig's weight cut to 185 and notes Craig's wins often come from being dominated then catching a submission. He expects Muniz to roll.

Muniz over 1.5 takedowns
"I can't think of like a worse matchup for him on the roster than Andre Muniz"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
André Muniz

Daniel is uncertain about this fight but sides with Muniz due to his experience at middleweight and his high-level jiu-jitsu. He acknowledges Paul Craig's dangerous guard and submission ability, noting Craig has submitted top light heavyweights. However, he is concerned about Craig dropping to 185 and thinks Muniz's grappling is a level above. He mentions that Muniz's last loss was due to fatigue, not skill, and that Craig's weight cut is a risk. He says he usually takes the dog when unsure but goes with the favorite here.

Daniel says 'I'll go with Muniz' but does not mention a bet. He notes the line is -220 and Craig is +185.
"I just really don't know so I'll go with Muniz but let's see"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
André Muniz

James picks Muniz to win by KO. He has a strong read on Muniz, having bet on him multiple times successfully. He believes Muniz is an elite jiu-jitsu player and that Craig won't be able to submit him. He thinks Muniz will crack Craig's chin, as Craig has a bad chin and Muniz hits hard. James notes that Muniz is dropping down in weight, which often doesn't go well, but he still expects a KO. He mentions that Muniz by KO is +350 on BetOnline and he hopes to find better odds elsewhere.

Muniz by KO at +350 (BetOnline), hopes to find +450 elsewhere
"I think moon is going to kill him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
André Muniz

The host picks André Muniz, believing his BJJ black belt will keep him safe on the ground and that he is the better striker. He notes Craig's danger off his back but thinks Muniz can grind him out from top position. He predicts a decision win for Muniz.

"give me Munez to win this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
André Muniz

Paul agrees, citing Muniz's superior Jiu-Jitsu and improved striking. He notes Craig's striking volume is very low and his wrestling is poor. He thinks Muniz will take Craig down and control him, though he doesn't love it as a lock.

Muniz over 1.5 takedowns
"I side with the superior skill set and it belongs to Andre Muniz"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
André Muniz

The MMA Guru picks André Muniz, arguing that Paul Craig's wins come from opponents taking him down, and Craig has poor stand-up. He believes Muniz will stuff takedowns and keep the fight standing, where he has a striking advantage. The Guru recalls Muniz wobbling Uriah Hall and predicts a KO win. He also notes Craig's chinny nature and lack of submission threats from top position.

KO
"I am gonna have to go if Andre minus the problem is people have been trying to convince me"
LOSS vs Johnny Walker
TKO (punches) R1 2:16 · UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill · Jan 21, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Johnny Walker 0 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 1 16 of 20 80% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Johnny Walker 0 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Craig 1 16 of 20 80% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Johnny Walker 3 of 8 37% 0 of 3 1 of 2 2 of 3 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 16 of 20 80% 12 of 16 1 of 1 3 of 3 6 of 9 5 of 5 5 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Johnny Walker 3 of 8 37% 0 of 3 1 of 2 2 of 3 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paul Craig 16 of 20 80% 12 of 16 1 of 1 3 of 3 6 of 9 5 of 5 5 of 6
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Johnny Walker

Big Brady picks Johnny Walker to knock out Paul Craig in the first round. He notes Walker is much bigger, more explosive, and has huge power on the feet. Craig's striking is not good and he will likely pull guard, but Walker should disengage and keep it standing. If Walker goes to the mat, Craig is dangerous with submissions, but Walker can also finish with ground and pound. He trusts Walker to get the knockout but warns of sweating if it hits the mat.

first round knockout
"I think Johnny Walker puts out Paul Craig and I think he does it in the first round here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Johnny Walker

Cody picks Johnny Walker confidently, noting Walker's striking advantage and improved fight IQ under John Kavanagh. He says Walker can dictate range, use footwork, and potshot Paul Craig. He acknowledges Craig's dangerous BJJ but thinks Walker will keep the fight standing and avoid the ground. He mentions Walker's power and ability to knock out Craig. He also notes Craig's poor striking and takedown defense.

parlayed Walker with Gilbert Burns; mentions Walker's submission win over Ihor Potieria
"I like Johnny Walker as well I think Johnny Walker at his best he's kind of already done this matchup with Misha chirconov"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Paul Craig

Connor picks Paul Craig, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Walker's new passive style is worse than his old reckless one, and that Craig will pressure and likely land clean shots. Connor also mentions that Walker has never been submitted but that Craig is a submission specialist who could catch him.

Connor mentions the odds but does not place a bet.
"I'll take Paul Craig. I have zero faith in what Johnny Walker's been doing."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Johnny Walker

Paul picks Johnny Walker confidently, noting Walker's striking advantage and improved fight IQ. He says Walker can keep the fight standing and avoid Craig's BJJ. He mentions Craig's poor striking and takedown defense, and says Walker has the power to knock him out. He acknowledges Craig's submission wins over top guys but thinks Walker will fight smart and avoid the ground.

parlayed Walker with Gilbert Burns; mentions Walker's submission win over Ihor Potieria
"I parlay Johnny Walker who's plus 170 or minus 175 on the ticket with Gilbert Burns"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Johnny Walker

The Guru is confident Walker will KO Craig. He highlights Walker's underrated grappling, noting he reversed Krylov and has improved rapidly. Craig has no striking threat, so Walker will be confident on the feet. The Guru predicts Walker will rock Craig, force a bad takedown, and finish with ground and pound, similar to the Ryan Spann fight.

KO via ground and pound
"I'm going with Johnny Walker I think Paul Craig is going to get ko'd in this fight and I can see it happening to ground and pound"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Paul Craig

Zane picks Paul Craig, citing that Craig has a reliable bag of tricks and will be aggressive, while Johnny Walker has regressed under SPG coaching, becoming passive and lacking a functional style. Zane notes that grappling is light heavyweight secret sauce, and Craig is a submission artist who can exploit Walker's poor grappling.

Craig opened at +130, now +158; Walker opened at -150, now -193. Zane does not place a bet.
"I'm gonna pick Paul Craig because at least Paul Craig has like a reliable bag of tricks."
Expert Picks (9)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Angelo is confident in Borralho, calling Paul Craig overrated and noting he can be finished. He expects Borralho to dominate and possibly finish Craig. He suggests waiting for prop bets.

Angelo says 'let's wait for the props to see what juice we can get going'
"Kyle baral is going to win this fight he should dominate here he should finish Paul Craig"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Big Brady sees Borralho as the much better striker and believes he will knock out Craig. He notes Craig's poor chin and recent damage taken. He predicts Borralho will take his time and finish Craig in the second round.

"I think Kyle knocks him out I think Kyle B gets his first UFC knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Cody picks Borralho, citing his superior wrestling, cardio, and durability. He notes Craig relies on submission magic but is poor defensively and has been neutralized by good grapplers. Cody expects Borralho to control the fight and win by decision or TKO.

"I think Kyle wins and maybe by decision..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland agrees with Jeff Fox on Caio Borralho. He emphasizes that Borralho is a great striker, noting his Contender Series wins over Aaron Jeffery and Jesse Murray were striking performances. Vreeland thinks people forget Borralho's striking because he is Brazilian and assumed to be a jiu-jitsu specialist. He believes Borralho can finish Paul Craig on the feet or on the ground, as Craig is a BJJ specialist but Borralho has the skills to avoid submissions and wear him down. Vreeland also mentions Craig's cardio concerns at middleweight.

"I think people forget that when Kai oh came to the UFC because he's Brazilian people are like oh yeah Jiu-Jitsu but like he came into the UFC with a couple of big striking performan is I think we can see another one here too"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Daniel Vreeland picks Borralho by decision, citing his superior jiu-jitsu (Damaian Maya black belt) and well-rounded game. He notes that Craig's only path is submission, but Borralho's grappling defense should neutralize that. He highlights Borralho's decision-heavy record and suggests the decision prop at +200 as a better value than the -600 moneyline.

Borralho by decision +200
"I think Kyle's gonna win this one by decision and right now the money line on Kyle is what did we say was it minus 600 again yes sir but the decision Props Plus 200"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Jeff Fox picks Caio Borralho despite the steep -550 line. He notes that Borralho has the striking ability to keep the fight standing and potentially knock out Paul Craig, as Borralho stated in an interview. Fox also believes Borralho can replicate what Brendan Allen did on the ground, as he has the pressure and submission defense to avoid Craig's submissions early and wear him down. He questions Craig's cardio at middleweight, noting he appeared to quit in the Allen fight. Fox also highlights Borralho's underrated striking, pointing to his Contender Series performances where he beat Aaron Jeffery on the feet and knocked out Jesse Murray.

Borralho by KO/TKO +250 mentioned as a prop later in the show
"I love C Ohio yeah negative 550 not run into the ticket counter with it but uh yeah I'm still picking him here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Borralho is superior everywhere and is one of the hottest Brazilian prospects. He will use grappling defensively early, chip away at Craig, and possibly find a knockout. If Craig slows down, Borralho will take him down and smash from top position. Borralho finishes within two or three rounds.

finish within two or three rounds
"look for bajayo to finish this fight within two or three rounds"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

Paul picks Borralho, emphasizing his superior grappling, wrestling, and durability. He believes Craig's only path is a submission, but Borralho's BJJ black belt and top control will neutralize that. Paul expects Borralho to stuff takedowns and ground-and-pound.

Borralho by KO/TKO
"I'm thinking he knocks him out... he just stuffs him and gets on top of him and puts a beating on."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho, predicting a first-round knockout via a stiff jab. He believes Borralho is a well-rounded, big middleweight with enough takedown defense to keep the fight standing, where Craig is less dangerous. He notes Borralho's recent wins over Abus Magomedov and Maxime Gremont, and expects him to chin Craig early.

first minute or two of the fight he chins Paul Craig and puts him away
"I'm going to go with baralo with a jab knocks down Craig and puts him away"
Comments (1)
BR
brian 9 months, 1 week ago

Craig looked ok against the best. Looked bigger but ultimately Caio too smart to go to the ground. Caio land a nice one two and then killed him