UFC 326 · Mar 07, 2026 · Middleweight · Completed
Age 33
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 35
Height 6' 4"
Reach 78.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
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 - Reinier de Ridder
2.47 SLpM
48.0% Str. Acc.
2.36 SApM
46.0% Str. Def.
2.56 TD Avg
29.0% TD Acc.
40.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
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 picked Feb 8, 2026 (27 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
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 picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)

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 picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
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 picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Sep 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Aug 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Aug 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Apr 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Apr 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
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 picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
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 picked May 2, 2024 (2 days before fight)
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 picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
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 picked May 2, 2024 (2 days before fight)
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 picked May 3, 2024 (1 day before fight)
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 picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Apr 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 30, 2023 (5 days before fight)
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 picked Nov 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Nov 4, 2023 (fight day)
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 picked Oct 31, 2023 (4 days before fight)
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
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Apr 27, 2023 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Apr 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Apr 27, 2023 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 16, 2022 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 18, 2022 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
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 picked Jul 3, 2022 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Jul 5, 2022 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Jul 6, 2022 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Jul 9, 2022 (fight day)
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 picked Jul 6, 2022 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Jul 4, 2022 (5 days before fight)
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."
Reinier de Ridder - Fight History
LOSS vs Caio Borralho
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 picked Feb 8, 2026 (27 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
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 picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)

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 picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
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 …"
LOSS vs Brendan Allen
KO R4 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · Oct 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Reinier de Ridder 0 9 of 13 69% 61 of 72 3 of 7 42% 1 0 7:05
Brendan Allen 0 22 of 37 59% 97 of 134 1 of 1 100% 1 2 11:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Reinier de Ridder 0 3 of 4 75% 40 of 47 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:04
Brendan Allen 0 2 of 2 100% 6 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:32
2 Reinier de Ridder 0 5 of 6 83% 10 of 12 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:48
Brendan Allen 0 12 of 18 66% 27 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:45
3 Reinier de Ridder 0 1 of 2 50% 4 of 5 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:13
Brendan Allen 0 4 of 10 40% 27 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 1 3:26
4 Reinier de Ridder 0 0 of 1 0% 7 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brendan Allen 0 4 of 7 57% 37 of 45 1 of 1 100% 1 0 4:56
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Reinier de Ridder 9 of 13 69% 4 of 5 5 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 10 2 of 2 1 of 1
Brendan Allen 22 of 37 59% 19 of 33 3 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 8 2 of 2 19 of 27
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Reinier de Ridder 3 of 4 75% 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 1 of 1
Brendan Allen 2 of 2 100% 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Reinier de Ridder 5 of 6 83% 2 of 2 3 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 0
Brendan Allen 12 of 18 66% 11 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 11 of 13
3 Reinier de Ridder 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brendan Allen 4 of 10 40% 4 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 7
4 Reinier de Ridder 0 of 1 0% 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brendan Allen 4 of 7 57% 4 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: de Ridder (-200); Allen (+170)

Round 1
Although not born in the Great White North, late replacement Allen (25-7, 13-4 UFC) will nevertheless be hoisting the flag covered by a red maple leaf in honor of his grandparents. He will serve as a fairly significant betting underdog as he takes on submission magician de Ridder (21-2, 4-0 UFC), even though he too is quite a grappler in his own right. What could be a delight on the ground or a wild one on the feet will have five rounds to air out, and referee Jason Herzog brings the 185-pounders to the center of the cage to issue their final instructions. They touch gloves respectfully. It’s on with the show.
De Ridder opens with a low kick and a takedown shot, and Allen stonewalls him immediately and knees him in the chest. They both wrangle one another around in the subsequent clinch while spamming knee strikes, and Allen shoves the Dutchman to the fence. De Ridder deftly hits a trip and lands in full mount, putting Allen in a precarious position less than one minute in. “The Dutch Knight” wraps up an arm-triangle choke from mount that he uses to smother his opponent. Allen stays calm and composed while a roughly 200-pound man is partially using a Mother’s Milk submission on him, and he turns and almost gives his arm up. De Ridder thinks about going after it, but he instead allows Allen to keep twisting so he can secure the back from the Louisiana native.
De Ridder wraps up the body triangle and has Allen leaning on him, so he torques himself to have Allen flat and stuck hand-fighting. While Allen fights off the grip, De Ridder makes his life miserable and lets Allen keep twisting to put him flat on his belly. Allen gets to his knees with the body lock in place, and he tries to drag himself towards the fencing but begins to take shots to the ear from the Dutch fighter. De Ridder rolls and grabs hold of the neck, and Allen, a rear-naked choke specialist, is fully capable at the moment of defending from the various directions. De Ridder clings to the shoulder when Allen almost shakes him off, and he fastens an arm around the chin just to restrict the breathing. De Ridder flattens Allen out for a second and stars bludgeoning him with punches to the side and back of the head, and Herzog is telling him to knock it off but little more. Allen twists his way out and ignores an armbar setup to turn De Ridder over, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder

Round 2
The athletes get to the second stanza, and Allen is the one to push the pace. In doing so, he walks into a punch and three body kicks. Allen points at his opponent and spins at him with an elbow, closing the distance to hurl a couple short strikes after it. De Ridder welcomes this, snatching Allen up and pressing him to the wire. De Ridder drives knees to the midsection when not level changing, and he drops down to his knees to go for a double-leg takedown. Allen’s defense holds up on this effort, so de Ridder transitions to an outside trip that he uses to drag Allen to the floor. De Ridder sits on top and pops him with his shoulder a few times, completely nullifying “All In” and making him have to fight off everything. De Ridder imposes his weight on Allen’s back, pushing off the fence to drag them down, and Allen slides out and assumes top control with a sneaky reversal.
Allen connects with short strikes including a few slashing elbows, grinding his forehead down to exude as much pressure as he can muster to shut down the Dutchman. Allen hammers his opponent with elbows, and de Ridder rolls to threaten with an armbar using his offensive guard. Allen breaks through the tries and steps over through to the side so that he can drum down his own attacks. De Ridder looks for an armbar trap while Allen is hacking at him, and Allen stays smart and keeps his strikes tight and compact to not open himself up for anything. De Ridder abandons it and rolls over to his knees, only for Allen to put him back on his back. The Dutch fighter puts his legs up and to the side of the head in hopes of catching Allen unaware, even trying for an armbar before even getting hold of Allen’s limb, and Allen laughs it off and hits de Ridder with ground-and-pound until the round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 3
Allen goes right after his opponent to get started, pitching a body kick at the Dutch fighter who appears to be slowing. De Ridder punches his way into a takedown shot, and Allen runs across the cage with de Ridder behind him and is dragged to the floor. De Ridder clings onto the back and tries to lace up a body triangle, and Allen turns through it until he doesn’t. De Ridder claims back control, and he starts hunting for a choke. Allen punches him behind his own head, and de Ridder appears to have some damage around his right eye that is leaking blood down his cheek. Allen turns all the way through to wind up on top, and de Ridder clings to an arm-triangle choke that he does not get. Allen opens up the guard with elbows, and de Ridder hunts for an armbar that is nowhere near close to finding.
De Ridder does manage to turn over by threatening with his offensive guard, although Allen welcomes this by opening up with power punches to the side of the dome. De Ridder rolls to his back, and Allen lays into him with punishing punches and eviscerating elbows. Blood starts to pool around de Ridder’s eye sockets, and Allen grinds his elbow on the face and keeps doing damage. De Ridder desperately throws up his legs to hook in an inverted triangle choke, and Allen does not appear concerned as he drops down a few hammerfists and slips his head out. The round over, de Ridder is on the ground for quite some time. Herzog asks him if he can get up, and eventually, he stands, but was precariously close to being called out for not getting back to his stool.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 4
The physician checks on de Ridder between rounds, who is so visibly fatigued he almost cannot stand up. De Ridder says he is ok, so the fight continues and the championship rounds are here. Allen, knowing that de Ridder’s goose is likely cooked, sprints at his wiped opponent and completes one of the easiest double-leg takedowns he has ever landed against a high-level adversary. De Ridder feebly offers a submission setup from his back, and Allen punches him out of it. Herzog tells Allen to keep it clean, as Allen is drilling de Ridder in the side of the head with his fists and elbows. A hematoma has formed on the right temple of the exhausted Dutchman, and Allen slowly, methodically drums on him with ground-and-pound. Allen resides in de Ridder’s guard, working him over until Herzog tells him to be more active.
This spurs de Ridder, of the two, to offer up some resistance in the form of an armbar. Allen lets de Ridder twist and turn, clubbing him with ground strikes that further make this day the worst for de Ridder in quite some time. The damage is not particularly frightening, but Allen has become a steamroller completely taking all of the energy reserves out of the man on bottom. Allen smothers and grinds, making sure that de Ridder has no room for escape and no space to get something off. Allen stands up, and de Ridder does not. Herzog tells the corner to get away, as they cannot help him back up. De Ridder manages to stand. It is a moral victory, him merely standing up and walking to his stool, as he has nothing left to offer. Rather than send their man out for another five-minute slow cooking, the Dutchman's corner throws in the towel on his behalf. The fight is over, and Allen has prevailed by technical knockout as a late replacement. Allen claimed he wanted to break his opponent, and by definition, he did just that.
In his post-fight interview, Allen first requests a moment of silence for his fallen former coach, "Duke" Roufus, who passed away yesterday. Even after 20 minutes of grueling combat, Allen appears fairly fresh. The skillful middleweight issues three callouts, covering all his bases: Khamzat Chimaev, or if not him, Dricus du Plessis. If for some reason both turn him down, he asks for a rematch with Sean Strickland as the two toed the line about five years ago at 195 pounds. Should any of those happen, we will be here for it. Additionally, UFC 321 is next weekend, with the heavyweight throne on the line. We will absolutely be there for that one, which starts at 10 a.m. ET, and we hope you are too.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Allen

The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Reinier de Ridder R4 5:00 via TKO (Corner Stoppage)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Angelo is confident Reinier de Ridder wins, citing his size, grappling, and durability. He notes de Ridder's impressive performances against Whittaker, Bo Nickal, and Cannonier. He believes Brendan Allen will fade, similar to his fight against Anthony Hernandez, and that Allen's camp change is a disadvantage.

De Ridder scores high fantasy points
"I think RDR wins this fight. I think he scores a ton of points."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Big Brady acknowledges de Ridder's unorthodox striking but highlights his size, power, and dangerous knees. He thinks de Ridder has better cardio than Allen on short notice and is more dangerous in both striking and grappling. He predicts de Ridder knocks out Allen in the second round.

de Ridder by KO in round 2
"I got to go Derritter. Um, give me Ditter to win this fight. I'll see who he wins this fight by second round KO."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Cody picks de Ridder, citing his size, physicality, and excellent jiu-jitsu. He notes de Ridder's funky striking and ability to tax opponents with cage control, as seen in the Whittaker fight. He believes Brendan Allen's cardio issues and short notice will be exploited over five rounds, leading to a late stoppage or decision.

"I'm going to lean towards Ren Ditter minus 200. I think it's a little bit deep. I think Brandon Allen poses lots of problems to him, right?"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Connor leans toward de Ridder but acknowledges Allen's chances. He notes that Allen is well-rounded and could be competitive if he pushes forward and stays confident. However, he thinks Allen is likely to grapple with de Ridder, which plays into de Ridder's strengths. Connor also mentions that de Ridder is defensively flawed and could be knocked out by a big shot.

Odds: de Ridder opened at -250, currently -220; Allen opened at +210, currently +185.
"I think there's a, there's a version of this fight, a couple of, you know, key decisions made on either side where Alan could be quite competitive and maybe even put Derrida in trouble."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

James sees similarities between de Ridder and Dricus du Plessis, noting that de Ridder's unorthodox style, including a devastating step-in knee and judo trips, makes him difficult to prepare for. He believes Brendan Allen will start well but fade due to short notice and cardio issues, with de Ridder's pressure and grappling taking over in later rounds. James predicts a finish in rounds 3 or 4.

"I think as the fight plays out, like most DA fights, the Ritter starts to get going. He lands his knees up the middle. He hurts Brendan Allen. Brendan Allen's lack of training camp, four-week notice, starts to take a …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

The host thinks de Ridder will utilize his aggressiveness to keep Allen on the back foot and mix in wrestling. He believes Allen's submission defense will be good enough to avoid a finish, but unless the short notice fight causes his gas tank to fail, de Ridder will keep top pressure and control to win on the scorecards.

win by decision
"I think that Ditter will do a good job in terms of utilizing his aggressiveness to keep Allen on the back foot from there."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing de Ridder's size and grappling pressure. He highlights Brendan Allen's tendency to fade in later rounds, as seen against Vettori and Curtis, and believes de Ridder's full camp and five-round experience will be decisive. He expects de Ridder to win by late stoppage or decision.

"I echo most of the same sentiments as you. I haven't been the highest on Rainer Durator, but I also haven't been the highest on Brendan Allen."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

The MMA Guru picks Reinier de Ridder over Brendan Allen. He references de Ridder's performance against Whittaker and his body knees. He believes Allen is stationary and will be vulnerable to body knees, leading to a submission or TKO. He predicts de Ridder will hurt Allen with a knee to the body and finish with a submission in round two or three.

submission win in round two or three
"I'm going to go with Reina De Ridder getting this one done. I think he'll hurt Brendan Allen with a knee to the body, and then he's going to score a submission win or a TKO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Zane picks de Ridder, citing his aggression and ability to finish. He notes that de Ridder is more aggressive and looks to finish, while Allen tends to have close fights against composed opponents. Zane believes de Ridder's size and ability to reverse positions will be key, and that Allen's attack-focused grappling may lead to losing positions.

Odds: de Ridder opened at -250, currently -220; Allen opened at +210, currently +185.
"So yeah, I'm going to take the ritter, but it's an interesting fight."
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Robert Whittaker 1 66 of 142 46% 70 of 146 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Reinier de Ridder 0 67 of 145 46% 192 of 282 2 of 15 13% 0 0 9:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Robert Whittaker 0 20 of 34 58% 21 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Reinier de Ridder 0 15 of 35 42% 21 of 42 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:12
2 Robert Whittaker 0 9 of 27 33% 9 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Reinier de Ridder 0 16 of 38 42% 29 of 58 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:04
3 Robert Whittaker 1 20 of 28 71% 21 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:32
Reinier de Ridder 0 13 of 30 43% 32 of 51 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:39
4 Robert Whittaker 0 6 of 22 27% 8 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Reinier de Ridder 0 14 of 24 58% 37 of 48 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:56
5 Robert Whittaker 0 11 of 31 35% 11 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Reinier de Ridder 0 9 of 18 50% 73 of 83 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Robert Whittaker 66 of 142 46% 62 of 135 4 of 7 0 of 0 51 of 123 4 of 5 11 of 14
Reinier de Ridder 67 of 145 46% 41 of 105 26 of 40 0 of 0 54 of 128 9 of 11 4 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Robert Whittaker 20 of 34 58% 19 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0 19 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0
Reinier de Ridder 15 of 35 42% 6 of 19 9 of 16 0 of 0 10 of 30 5 of 5 0 of 0
2 Robert Whittaker 9 of 27 33% 8 of 26 1 of 1 0 of 0 9 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
Reinier de Ridder 16 of 38 42% 12 of 32 4 of 6 0 of 0 15 of 36 0 of 0 1 of 2
3 Robert Whittaker 20 of 28 71% 20 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0 8 of 13 1 of 1 11 of 14
Reinier de Ridder 13 of 30 43% 10 of 24 3 of 6 0 of 0 10 of 26 0 of 0 3 of 4
4 Robert Whittaker 6 of 22 27% 6 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 20 1 of 2 0 of 0
Reinier de Ridder 14 of 24 58% 10 of 18 4 of 6 0 of 0 12 of 21 2 of 3 0 of 0
5 Robert Whittaker 11 of 31 35% 9 of 26 2 of 5 0 of 0 10 of 30 1 of 1 0 of 0
Reinier de Ridder 9 of 18 50% 3 of 12 6 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 15 2 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Angelo picks Reinier de Ridder with low confidence, fearing Robert Whittaker may be on the decline after his teeth were shoved in by Khamzat Chimaev. He acknowledges Whittaker is the better striker and overall fighter, but believes de Ridder's size, grappling, and ability to close distance could be too much. He will be rooting for Whittaker.

"I'm going to pick him. Low confidence pick here, but I am going to go with Renier."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Big Brady picks Robert Whittaker, citing a massive striking advantage. He notes de Ridder has poor cardio and was outstruck by Gerald Meerschaert, while Whittaker has elite takedown defense and striking. He worries about the first round if de Ridder gets a takedown but believes if the fight extends, Whittaker will dominate. He predicts a third-round knockout.

third round knockout
"I like Whitaker here. ... I think he probably does knock out Ditter late in the fight."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Connor sees Whittaker as a master of middle distance, able to control the pocket and land combos without getting drawn into clinch exchanges. He notes de Ridder's poor defensive footwork and tendency to collapse into the cage, which Whittaker will exploit. He also points out that de Ridder's size and willingness to take punishment may make it uncomfortable early, but ultimately Whittaker's speed and accuracy will be too much.

Odds movement from -190 to -140 suggests line movement, but Connor is surprised de Ridder is only +120, calling it 'basically dead even' and saying 'I don't see it.'
"I'm going to take Robert Whittaker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Whittaker will avoid de Ridder's BJJ stylings, stuff takedowns, keep the fight upright, pick de Ridder apart, and eventually find a finish in the third or fourth round.

finish in round 3 or 4
"I think Whitaker won't have as much trouble dealing with Ditter in the striking realm. And I think we'll see Whitaker stuff the takedowns of Derritter, keep this fight upright, pick the Ritter apart, and eventually find that finish in …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

The MMA Guru picks Reinier de Ridder, citing his size, reach, and unorthodox style as problems for Whittaker, similar to Dricus du Plessis. He notes Whittaker's recent jaw surgery and de Ridder's momentum from the Bo Nickal win. He predicts a submission victory, specifically a rear-naked choke in the third round after wearing Whittaker down.

Submission, round 3, rear-naked choke
"I'm going to go with Raina Derida. ... I'm going to say submission victory for Raina Derida. ... third round rear naked choke."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Zane agrees with Connor, emphasizing that de Ridder has never faced a striker as fast, accurate, and powerful as Whittaker. He notes that Whittaker's losses come against elite wrestlers or rangy strikers like Adesanya, but de Ridder lacks that athleticism. He expects a clear win for Whittaker, possibly similar to the Aliskerov fight.

"Yeah, it's just not a, it's not a fight that we've ever seen Whitaker lose... I expect it to look like a pretty easy fight for Whitaker."
WIN vs Bo Nickal
KO R2 1:53 · UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo · May 03, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Reinier de Ridder 1 22 of 32 68% 91 of 104 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:09
Bo Nickal 0 8 of 21 38% 24 of 40 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:24
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Reinier de Ridder 0 5 of 10 50% 43 of 49 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:52
Bo Nickal 0 2 of 6 33% 17 of 24 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:00
2 Reinier de Ridder 1 17 of 22 77% 48 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Bo Nickal 0 6 of 15 40% 7 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Reinier de Ridder 22 of 32 68% 9 of 18 13 of 14 0 of 0 7 of 15 15 of 17 0 of 0
Bo Nickal 8 of 21 38% 2 of 13 4 of 5 2 of 3 3 of 14 5 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Reinier de Ridder 5 of 10 50% 2 of 7 3 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 5 4 of 5 0 of 0
Bo Nickal 2 of 6 33% 1 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Reinier de Ridder 17 of 22 77% 7 of 11 10 of 11 0 of 0 6 of 10 11 of 12 0 of 0
Bo Nickal 6 of 15 40% 1 of 8 3 of 4 2 of 3 3 of 10 3 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: ODDS: Nickal (-325), de Ridder (+260)

Round 1
The co-main event of UFC on ESPN 67 features a couple of middleweight ground specialists who have yet to suffer defeat in the Octagon, but the similarities end there, as former ONE two-division champ de Ridder will pit his Brazilian jiu-jitsu chops against Nickal, perhaps the most accomplished amateur wrestler ever to cross over to mixed martial arts this early in his athletic prime. Something’s got to give, and Mike Beltran will be charged with keeping things legal. Both fighters come out in southpaw stance, and Nickal wastes no time in clinching and driving the taller man to the cage. After some pummeling for position, but no serious takedown attempts by either man, they break things off and move away from the fence. It’s “The Dutch Knight” who initiates the next clinch, appearing to contemplate a takedown of his own, but Nickal spins him against the fence. De Ridder reverses him again and throws a couple of short punches to the body. Nickal drops for a single-leg, picks the opposite ankle and grounds de Ridder with ease near the base of the fence. As de Ridder begins to stand, Nickal grabs a guillotine, closes his guard and tries to submit the submission specialist. There’s nothing doing there, and Nickal is forced to give up the choke. Worse, he is forced to give up top position to de Ridder, who sets up in half guard. Nickal gets up and de Ridder threatens to take his back. Nickal gets his hips out and uses a double-leg to stand, then ground de Ridder. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder

Round 2
De Ridder comes forward fearlessly to open Round 2, throwing a knee up the middle and driving Nickal towards the fence. They clinch and de Ridder uses an overhook to hold the shorter man in place for a couple of left knees to the breadbasket. Nickal hauls de Ridder away from the fence, but de Ridder follows him and nails him with a big knee to the sternum. It takes a few seconds for de Ridder to realize how badly he has his man hurt, but he sticks with what brought him to the dance, driving more knees into the retreating American. Nickal staggers back to the fence and slides to his right as de Ridder follows, pouring on the punishment.
Nickal tries to come off the fence with an overhand left, but it misses badly and de Ridder keeps crushing him as he goes careening all the way across the cage. A final right knee to the jaw melts Nickal, who collapses to all fours at the base of the fence. With Nickal having taken about 20 unanswered strikes and making no move to defend himself, referee Beltran moves in to halt the onslaught.
Reinier de Ridder has taken care of business, putting away one of the UFC’s most highly touted prospects in shockingly one-sided fashion. Time will tell how this result ages, and where these two men’s career tracks diverge from here, but in the moment, this did not even look like the upset it supposedly was.

The Official Result
Reinier de Ridder def. Bo Nickal R2 1:53 via TKO (Knees)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 27, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Angelo picks Bo Nickal but is hesitant due to de Ridder's size and jiu-jitsu. He acknowledges that Nickal is the better wrestler but warns that de Ridder could get the first takedown and win on the ground. He decides not to bet on this fight despite the affordable odds, preferring to watch.

No bet; cautious despite odds
"Bo Nickal is the pick, but I'm a little weary."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Big Brady is confident in Bo Nickal, expecting a knockout. He praises Nickal's fight IQ in the Paul Craig fight for not grappling with a dangerous submission artist. He notes that de Ridder will struggle to take Nickal down, and Nickal is the better striker with improving skills, better durability, and cardio. De Ridder has gassed out and quit in fights before. Brady predicts Nickal will knock out de Ridder in the second round.

Round 2 KO
"I like Nickel here. Uh, I think Nickel is going to knock out Renee De Ritter at some point in this fight. We'll call it second round knockout for Bo Nickel."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Connor picks Nickal, but with low confidence. He acknowledges that de Ridder is a dangerous grappler with a swarming style, but believes Nickal's superior athleticism and wrestling could shut down de Ridder's game. Connor notes that de Ridder's defensive flaws on the feet make him vulnerable to Nickal's power, and if Nickal can land early, he may finish. However, he admits Nickal's inexperience and poor showing against Craig make this a risky pick.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"Let's split it: I'll pick Bo Nickal, you pick de Ridder."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Many are low on Nickal after the Paul Craig fight, but that was just for live striking experience. Here, he may mix in wrestling to keep de Ridder guessing. I expect Nickal to land a big shot and win by knockout.

knockout
"I think that will eventually lead to Nickel landing a big shot on Ditter and putting him out, winning this fight by knockout."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

The MMA Guru picks Bo Nickal to win by TKO in the first or second round. He believes Nickal's wrestling instincts and speed will be too much for Reinier de Ridder, who he thinks is stationary and vulnerable to straight shots. He notes that de Ridder struggled with Gerald Meerschaert and that Nickal will piece him up on the feet. He predicts Nickal will drop de Ridder early and finish him.

first or second round TKO
"I'm going to go with Bo Nickel. I think he has the wrestling instincts. First of all, Derida I don't think gets a takedown on him."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Zane picks de Ridder, drawing parallels to the GM3 fight where a less athletic but more experienced grappler outworked a younger wrestler. He notes that Nickal's lack of experience and poor performance against Paul Craig suggest he may struggle against de Ridder's pressure and scrambling. Zane worries that Nickal will get tired or panic if he can't impose his wrestling, leading to a late submission loss. However, he acknowledges Nickal's higher athletic ceiling could change the outcome.

Odds: Nickal -332, de Ridder +280. Zane thinks the odds should be closer to a pick'em given Nickal's last showing.
"I'll pick de Ridder to just repeat this GM3 fight and we're gonna see... the athletic higher athletic ceiling and much lower level of experience and technical skill are going to balance out."
WIN vs Kevin Holland
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:31 · UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano · Jan 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Reinier de Ridder 0 11 of 13 84% 27 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kevin Holland 0 12 of 21 57% 26 of 35 2 of 2 100% 1 0 3:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Reinier de Ridder 0 11 of 13 84% 27 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kevin Holland 0 12 of 21 57% 26 of 35 2 of 2 100% 1 0 3:25
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Reinier de Ridder 11 of 13 84% 10 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 9 of 10
Kevin Holland 12 of 21 57% 11 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 12 of 21
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Reinier de Ridder 11 of 13 84% 10 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 9 of 10
Kevin Holland 12 of 21 57% 11 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 12 of 21
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: De Ridder (-112), Holland (-108)

Round 1
Striker battles grappler to kick off the main card of UFC 311, although that might be a bit of an overgeneralization considering Holland (26-12, 1 NC; 13-9, 1 NC UFC) has landed some nifty brabo chokes in recent memory. He will come to blows, and/or roll with de Ridder (18-2, 1-0 UFC, who got his feet wet in the UFC last November by outhustling savant submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert and tapping “GM3” out. Whether this fight ends by knockout, submission or something else entirely, referee Frank Trigg will be here for the middleweights every step of the way. There is a touch of gloves to get things going, and de Ridder shoots in for a single immediately. Holland hits his back and wraps a leg around the head of his opponent, setting up a triangle and nearly transitioning it to an armbar. When de Ridder lords over him, Holland drills him with surprisingly effective hammerfists from his back. De Ridder lowers himself down into the guard, thwarting any subs coming his way. De Ridder grinds down with elbows to the chest, with Holland hanging onto the wrists before flailing his legs to get some space. An upkick or two may have gotten de Ridder’s attention, but de Ridder is still on top of him. Holland starts talking to Trigg, mentioning that he took a knee to the head, and he laughs. Holland keeps striking from off his back, and de Ridder elbows him back to shred a mean cut open on his forehead. Holland sways to avoid more ground-and-pound, but the Dutch fighter drew first blood. De Ridder unloads with standing-to-ground punches, pinning Holland to his back and letting Holland scramble so he can take his back. Holland stands up, and de Ridder is on his back, but barely. Holland lowers himself down to put his arms on the mat to take some of the weight off, and he rolls through and is followed. “RDR” fastens the body triangle around the waist and locks down a rear-naked choke, and it is tight in a hurry. Holland considers taking his mouthpiece out to alleviate some of the danger, but he realizes that his goose is cooked and that the man formerly known as “The Dutch Knight” has him dead to rights. As the choke is not going anywhere, Holland has no choice but to tap out before getting put to sleep. With that clear-cut win in his pocket, de Ridder places himself in prime position for big fights ahead.

The Official Result
Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland R1 3:31 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jan 12, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Angelo picks Reinier de Ridder but with hesitation. He believes de Ridder can exploit Kevin Holland's takedown defense and win via grappling. However, he worries about de Ridder's reckless ground decision-making, as seen in his UFC debut where he gave up positions. He thinks Holland's durability and jiu-jitsu could make it a decision win for de Ridder.

"I do think he wins this fight the odds are ing last time I said I thought he was going to win this fight he was a much bigger underdog now he's plus 115"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Cody picks Reinier de Ridder, citing the blueprint to beat Kevin Holland: take him down and control him. He notes that Holland struggles with wrestlers at middleweight, as seen against Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori. De Ridder is a large middleweight with strong judo and grappling, and Cody believes he will close the distance, clinch, and take Holland down repeatedly. He also points out that Holland has never faced an opponent taller than him, but de Ridder is 6'4". Cody expects a submission or dominant decision.

Mentions de Ridder may finish inside the distance with a submission. No specific odds.
"Rainer to Ritter that's exactly what he's looking to do he's not looking to have a fun striking match with you... he's looking to throw a right hand he's going to look to close that pocket get a hold of …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Connor picks de Ridder, citing his size, grappling, and ability to bait Holland into a grappling exchange. He notes that Holland's core is a BJJ player who sees wrestling as an invitation to grapple, which plays into de Ridder's strengths. Connor points out that de Ridder is huge and tough, and even though he's a poor striker, his lead hand and jab can set up takedowns. He believes Holland's poor takedown defense and tendency to engage in losing grappling battles will lead to a de Ridder win. Connor also mentions that de Ridder has only lost to massive powerhouses, which Holland is not.

Odds: de Ridder opened +132, now -105; Holland opened -147, now -105. Connor thinks de Ridder deserves to be the favorite.
"I gotta take Reinier de Ridder."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Daniel picks de Ridder, continuing his fade of Kevin Holland. He notes that de Ridder attempted 13 takedowns in his debut and believes he only needs to take Holland down once to win. Daniel thinks de Ridder will submit Holland and took him at +126 for 2 units. He mentions that Holland is a prize fighter without title aspirations, while de Ridder is hungry.

Daniel took de Ridder at +126 for 2 units. He says the fade Kevin Holland World Tour continues and expects a submission win.
"I took uh rer der rder about a week or two ago at a plus 126"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jan 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Lucrative James picks Reinier de Ridder, citing his superior grappling and jiu-jitsu, which should exploit Kevin Holland's known weakness against grapplers. He notes Holland's poor takedown defense and tendency to abandon game plans, while de Ridder's judo trips and submissions (arm triangle, rear-naked choke) are live threats. James believes de Ridder only needs a couple of takedowns to win rounds or secure a submission, and that Holland's rangy striking style plays into de Ridder's comfort zone. He also questions Holland's motivation, contrasting it with de Ridder's title aspirations.

"I'm going with the Ridder in this fight obviously it's a bit of a step up in competition from gm3 Kevin Holland is a Mainstay in the UFC but at the end of the day I don't think Kevin Holland …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

The host notes de Ridder had a successful UFC debut and wants to showcase his BJJ. Holland is also a BJJ black belt with a striking advantage, but the host thinks Holland will struggle to keep de Ridder off him, leading to de Ridder finding a dominant position and getting a submission victory.

submission victory
"I think he's going to struggle to keep darer off of him which will lead to dder eventually finding a dominant position and getting a submission Victory"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Paul agrees with Cody, picking de Ridder. He notes that Holland has always struggled with takedown defense at middleweight and that de Ridder's grappling should be the difference. Paul was impressed with de Ridder's submission win over Gerald Meerschaert and believes the same game plan will work against Holland. He advises de Ridder to avoid striking exchanges and lean on takedowns early and often.

No specific prop bet mentioned.
"I'm with you I'll I'll take rer the Ritter at a pick on price here as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

The MMA Guru picks Reinier de Ridder to submit Kevin Holland. He notes Holland is a fish out of water when taken down, and de Ridder has a massive strength advantage. He expects de Ridder to get on top and submit Holland early or in the second round. He also questions Holland's quitting tendency.

submission
"I will take Raina Dara to submit Kevin Holland early or in the second round"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Zane also picks de Ridder, agreeing with Connor. He emphasizes that Holland's willingness to engage in grappling exchanges will be his downfall. Zane notes that de Ridder's size and grappling ability will allow him to control the fight once it hits the mat. He points out that Holland has been taken down and controlled by lesser grapplers, and de Ridder is a significant step up. Zane also mentions that Holland's striking is inconsistent, and even if he has a good boxing performance, he'll likely abandon it for grappling.

Same odds commentary as Connor.
"I'm gonna take de Ridder as well."
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 1:44 · UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates · Nov 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Reinier de Ridder 0 30 of 54 55% 44 of 72 0 of 2 0% 0 1 2:53
Gerald Meerschaert 1 38 of 66 57% 82 of 114 5 of 13 38% 1 0 3:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Reinier de Ridder 0 21 of 34 61% 21 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:10
Gerald Meerschaert 1 28 of 53 52% 33 of 59 2 of 6 33% 0 0 0:44
2 Reinier de Ridder 0 9 of 17 52% 22 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:25
Gerald Meerschaert 0 5 of 6 83% 35 of 39 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:49
3 Reinier de Ridder 0 0 of 3 0% 1 of 4 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:18
Gerald Meerschaert 0 5 of 7 71% 14 of 16 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:56
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Reinier de Ridder 30 of 54 55% 27 of 49 3 of 5 0 of 0 22 of 44 2 of 3 6 of 7
Gerald Meerschaert 38 of 66 57% 19 of 42 10 of 13 9 of 11 34 of 61 3 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Reinier de Ridder 21 of 34 61% 19 of 30 2 of 4 0 of 0 19 of 32 2 of 2 0 of 0
Gerald Meerschaert 28 of 53 52% 14 of 34 5 of 8 9 of 11 26 of 51 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Reinier de Ridder 9 of 17 52% 8 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 10 0 of 0 6 of 7
Gerald Meerschaert 5 of 6 83% 2 of 3 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1
3 Reinier de Ridder 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0
Gerald Meerschaert 5 of 7 71% 3 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 5 1 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: De Ridder (-290), Meerschaert (+235)

Round 1
In their combined 54 pro wins, these two co-headlining middleweights have earned 50 finishes. Referee Mike Beltran better buckle up as soon as these two get started, as Meerschaert (37-17, 12-9 UFC) is just as dangerous in the first minute as he is in the last. Ridder (17-2, 0-0 UFC) will be coming over from One Championship, where level of competition and some other policies differ significantly, and it remains to be seen if there are any immediate growing pains. If this hits the ground, hang on tight. The 185ers touch ‘em up, and de Ridder starts out with multiple front kicks. Meerschaert chases after him with a one-two, and de Ridder’s front kick gets plenty of work early. De Ridder awkwardly lunges his way in, and he gets popped with a right hand before backing off. “RDR” chips at the front leg twice before Meerschaert gets his hands on him, with Meerschaert connecting with a series of punches that redden the newcomer’s face up. De Ridder uses a low kick to set up a takedown attempt, scooping up the middleweight submission leader in the UFC and putting him down to the ground. De Ridder passes briefly, but Meerschaert flips him over and fights off a triangle choke setup to allow them both to stand. Meerschaert stabs out a jab, and he rips a left to the ribcage. Meerschaert scores two left hands, and his subsequent right hand draws a funny reaction out of the UFC debutant. Meerschaert checks a body kick and swarms forward with several powerful punches. De Ridder wobbles back, gets clipped with a left hand and ducks down to prevent any further harm. “GM3” shuts down a takedown with ease and slides to the side, and he eats a jab on the way out. A de Ridder low kick gets checked, and he sets up a few punches with a jab and takes a few on the chin before backing off. Meerschaert connects with a solid left hook and jumps guard for a guillotine choke, but de Ridder shucks him out of the way. Meerschaert kicks him off, stands up and deals with a jump knee. Meerschaert stuffs a takedown and sets up a power guillotine, only to use the grip to push off. De Ridder swings wide, has a low kick checked and shoots for a failed entry. Meerschaert drills him with an elbow when fighting of the takedown, and de Ridder pecks at him with distant jabs. Meerschaert gives him one jab back to think about, and de Ridder sits down on a right hand that gets Meerschaert’s attention. Meerschaert closes in and dings him with an uppercut, and he gets sent flying with an elbow and a looping left hand. Before “RDR” can put a stamp on things, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 de Ridder

Round 2
To start off the second round, de Ridder wants to put hands on what he thinks to be a wounded fighter. Meerschaert appears to have his sea legs out him, and he swings back and tags the newcomer a few times. “RDR” walks him down, wraps up a body lock and hits an easy trip. Meerschaert turns to his side as de Ridder hopes to establish to half guard. De Ridder sneaks in an elbow before Meerschaert hand-fights with two-on-one wrist control on the Dutchman’s left arm, and de Ridder uses the opportunity to nearly slide out of danger. De Ridder sets up a choke while on his seat, and Meerschaert pushes him off and unloads with a lengthy punch combination. De Ridder still works his way upright, threaten with a throw and falls over. Meerschaert jumps on top, moving right into half guard and opening up with strikes. A brief arm-triangle choke from the American is flirted with, but Meerschaert bails on it to nail the debuting fighter with an elbow. De Ridder re-fastens his guard before tugging his toes on the fencing, and he pushes Meerschaert to his feet. “GM3” lowers himself back down while smacking de Ridder in the chops with punches. De Ridder fires back, and he lifts a leg up in hopes of hooking up a triangle. Meerschaert is wise to it and shucks it off, and he takes a few punches from “RDR” off his back. De Ridder fishes for an arm, and he uses it to work his way back to his feet. De Ridder turns the tables with a trip, placing the underdog on his back before having to fight out of an armbar. Meerschaert goes for one more submission as the 10-second clapper sounds, and he flips “RDR” over before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert

Round 3
The middleweights touch ‘em up to get the last round going, and Meerschaert is the one pushing the pace in pursuit of a clinch and possible takedown. De Ridder fights his way off the wall, only for Meerschaert to trip him down to his face. De Ridder stands back up, and Meerschaert shoots for a single that is defended. De Ridder drives a knee to the torso while Meerschaert stands up, and he trips “GM3” up and tosses him to the mat like a side of beef. Meerschaert squirms the right direction and puts de Ridder on the mat, evading a front choke while scurrying as fast as he can to put de Ridder on his back.
De Ridder repositions to full mount, and he locks down an arm-triangle choke in a hurry. Meerschaert defends by answering the telephone, and he quickly finds the submission is a bit too tight for his liking. Rather than get put to sleep, a disappointed Meerschaert taps out twice.
Both exhausted fighters fall to their backs, sucking wind now that the fight is over. De Ridder becomes the first fighter since Jack Hermansson in 2018 to force “GM3” to surrender, introducing himself to his new company in a big way.

The Official Result
Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert R3 1:44 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Angelo picks Reinier de Ridder as the next evolution of Gerald Meerschaert: high-level BJJ with much better takedowns. He notes de Ridder uses his length well and can hang with anyone on the ground. He expects a high-level grappling fight and thinks the UFC matched him up this way on purpose. He will probably bet on de Ridder.

probably will bet on de Ridder
"reer is going to be the pick I think the UFC matched him up this way on purpose so yeah probably going to bet on him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Big Brady goes back and forth but ultimately picks Meerschaert, citing de Ridder's poor cardio and striking. He expects de Ridder to come out strong but fade, allowing Meerschaert to take over in the later rounds. He predicts a third-round submission for Meerschaert.

Meerschaert by submission, round 3
"I'll take mirart I'll say third round submission for mirart"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Cody highlights de Ridder's elite grappling credentials, including a draw with Andre Galvao and a competitive loss to Tye Ruotolo. He believes de Ridder's judo and BJJ black belt will neutralize Meerschaert's submission game, and his striking is good enough to win on the feet. Cody expects de Ridder to pass this barometer test and win, possibly by knockout or decision.

"I think he passes it but it's not a walk in the park still a tough fight but I think he should go out there and excel with his skill set."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Connor also picks Meerschaert, agreeing that de Ridder's striking is terrible and that Meerschaert can piece him up. He notes the size difference but thinks Meerschaert's boxing will prevail. He also comments that the odds are too wide in favor of de Ridder.

Odds too wide; de Ridder should not be such a heavy favorite.
"I'm taking Mirchard too."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Daniel Vreeland picks Gerald Meerschaert as a dog, citing concerns about Reinier de Ridder's stamina and recent performances, including a knockout loss and a quit job. He notes Meerschaert's durability, awkward striking, and record for most submissions in UFC middleweight history. Vreeland expects a late finish if de Ridder doesn't get an early submission.

Meerschaert by late finish
"I'm going with GM3 via late finish."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Nov 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Lucrative James picks Reinier de Ridder to win, but is hesitant due to the wide odds. He notes that de Ridder is a one-dimensional grappler with poor striking, while Meerschaert is a submission specialist who could catch him. He believes de Ridder's wrestling and size advantage should allow him to dictate where the fight goes, but acknowledges that Meerschaert is dangerous off his back and could pull off a submission. He also mentions considering a bet on Meerschaert due to the value.

"I'll pick the r but honestly I'm considering a bet on gm3"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

De Ridder's ability to take the back will be key. As his grappling wears on Meerschaert, he should open up a submission or ground-and-pound opportunity and get a finish in his UFC debut.

wins by finish
"I believe as the riters grapple heavy approach wears on him he should be able to open up a submission opportunity or a ground and pound opportunity which he should be able to get and get his hand raised in …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

Paul is not excited about laying -278 on a UFC debutant, but acknowledges de Ridder's experience in big fights and his grappling advantage. He notes that Meerschaert struggles when opponents don't gas and have comparable grappling. Paul thinks de Ridder can win on points or by taking Meerschaert down and controlling him.

"I'm not too excited about laying minus 278 on a guy who hasn't been tested in the UFC yet but he's obviously been in some big fights so he'll be my pick as well."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Reinier de Ridder

The Guru picks Reinier de Ridder, citing his jiu-jitsu advantage and ability to avoid being fraud-checked in grappling. He worries about de Ridder's stand-up but believes his clinch knees and body work will be key. He predicts de Ridder finishes Meerschaert with knees to the body in the second or third round, surviving any guillotine danger.

TKO via knees to the body, round 2 or 3
"I'm going to go with Raina darid here I may regret this but um M sharts wins Edmund shabazian fumbles everything can't go cardio rounds"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Zane picks Meerschaert, noting that de Ridder cannot strike at all and has no functional pressure. He thinks Meerschaert can outbox him easily. He also mentions that de Ridder's wins are over regional competition and that Meerschaert is a tough out. He suggests a prop on Meerschaert by decision.

Meerschaert wins by decision at +800; fight goes the distance at +150.
"I'm taking Mirchard for sure."
Expert Picks (11)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2026 (27 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
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 picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
No clear pick

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 picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
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 picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
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 give a shit what he's doing?"