Caio Borralho calls for top-10 opponent at UFC 334, believes he’s ‘one or two’ wins away from title shot

Caio Borralho has cleared medical hurdles and is ready to resume his UFC campaign after surgery for a rib injury forced him to withdraw from a planned bout with Joe Pyfer at UFC 330. The Brazilian middleweight says he is operating at 90–95 percent and hopes to compete at UFC 334 in New York on November 14, a date he views as optimal timing to rebuild momentum in the title conversation.

Borralho (8-1 in the UFC) told MMA Fighting he expects to begin fight camp in three to four weeks and is open to facing any top-ten opponent. While Pyfer—who recently knocked out former champion Israel Adesanya—remains an option, Borralho is simply awaiting the UFC's matchmaking call. "I just need to make sense for me, for the company, and for the division," he said, adding that he believes one or two more wins will place him in title contention.

Borralho's comeback comes as the middleweight title picture remains unsettled following Sean Strickland's shocking upset of Khamzat Chimaev in May. Chimaev is now seeking an immediate rematch, but Borralho argues that Nassourdine Imavov deserves the next shot based on his résumé. Borralho himself rebounded from a decision loss to Imavov with a recent victory over Reinier de Ridder in March, setting the stage for a crowded contender's race that also includes Brendan Allen and Pyfer.

The timing of UFC 334 in New York aligns with Borralho's recovery window, and a win there could accelerate his path toward the belt.