Caio Borralho expressed skepticism about Reinier de Ridder’s position in the UFC middleweight title contention following the Dutch fighter’s narrow victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi last month. Despite de Ridder’s growing resume, Borralho is cautious about placing him among the immediate title challengers.
At UFC Abu Dhabi, de Ridder secured a split decision win against former champion Robert Whittaker after five competitive rounds. This victory marked de Ridder’s fourth straight UFC triumph, adding to his previous win over highly touted prospect Bo Nickal, whom he defeated by second-round TKO at UFC Des Moines in May. These wins have sparked debate about de Ridder’s ranking within the division.
Borralho’s Perspective on De Ridder’s Standing in the Middleweight Division
In an interview with Submission Radio, Borralho weighed in on de Ridder’s recent performances and his title prospects. He acknowledged the close nature of the fight against Whittaker but emphasized that the win doesn’t necessarily elevate de Ridder to immediate title contention.
“That was a very, very close fight, but I think Whittaker didn’t do enough to win this fight. I think De Ridder actually won the fight even if it was close, but I don’t think this is a fight that makes him a backup or in a position to be coming for the belt, or even the loser of Dricus [Du Plessis] and [Khamzat] Chimaev.” —Caio Borralho
Borralho also highlighted several other contenders he believes hold clearer claims ahead of de Ridder in the middleweight pecking order.
“There are at least three other guys in front of him in the division. There’s Anthony Hernandez, there’s me, there’s Brendan Allen with 12 wins at middleweight, there’s [Nassourdine] Imavov. There’s a lot of other guys in front of him. He just beat Bo Nickal, and then he beat Whittaker, but to be honest, Whittaker wasn’t even there.” —Caio Borralho
Reinier de Ridder Claims He Is Ready for a Championship Shot
Following his win over Whittaker, Reinier de Ridder publicly stated that he sees himself as part of the middleweight title picture. Despite entering the fight as an underdog, he demonstrated confidence about challenging for the belt in upcoming matchups.
“I’m a top-five fighter in the world; that’s a crazy thing to say. We’ll see where everything lands in the division over the next couple of months, but I’m ready to challenge for a title.” —Reinier de Ridder
Implications for the Middleweight Division Moving Forward
De Ridder’s recent victories have undoubtedly raised his profile in the UFC’s middleweight division, yet Borralho’s remarks suggest that the path to a title shot remains contested. With established contenders like Brendan Allen, Anthony Hernandez, Nassourdine Imavov, and others also vying for top positions, the division is crowded with challengers.
As the division shapes up over the coming months, fans can expect competitive matchups that will determine who earns the next chance at the title. Both de Ridder and Borralho are among the fighters looking to position themselves for a championship opportunity, making the middleweight landscape increasingly dynamic and unpredictable.