LAS VEGAS – Caio Borralho was impressed, but at the same time, not really by Dricus Du Plessis’ first UFC title defense.
Borralho (16-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who fights Jared Cannonier (17-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 62, is in awe of how much success Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is having, despite his lack of skill, at least according to Borralho.
“It’s crazy this one because whenever Dricus fights, I always bet against him, you know,” Borralho told reporters on Wednesday at the UFC on ESPN 62 media day. “It’s crazy how bad he is, but how he makes it work, you know. It’s crazy how he makes it work.
“Props to him. I just need to congratulate him because even with bad technique, bad game plan, crazy style, he always makes it work, and he’s winning. He’s undefeated in the UFC, so he deserves this spot that he is right now. For sure, I just think about Jared – I don’t want to think bout anything else – but looking forward to getting this fight.”
Du Plessis is unbeaten since joining the UFC and is currently on a 10-fight winning streak. He won the UFC middleweight title by defeating then-champion Sean Strickland back in January and defended it this past Saturday by submitting Israel Adesnya in the main event of UFC 305 in Australia.
It looks like Strickland is up next as a challenger, but Borralho would like to offer another name deserving of the opportunity.
“If I’m being honest, I think Brendan Allen is one of the guys that deserves the shot because I think he has like seven or eight straight victories,” Borralho said. “He as supposed to fight a top five guy for his last fight, and the guy got injured. He then took a fight against (Chris) Curtis, who was No. 15. He took a lot of risk on that, and I think he’s going a great job inside the octagon.
“I just think he needs to do a better job outside the octagon in marketing, social media, and other stuff. … I think he’s the guy that really deserves that. I think Sean Strickland) deserves it too because he already faced Adesanya and Dricus, and I think with Dricus he won the fight. I think he deserves the rematch, too. I think these are the two guys that deserve it most.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
