Caio Borralho likes Sean Strickland as an individual, however he was left unimpressed by for ex-titleholder’s most up-to-date efficiency contained in the Octagon.
Headlining the promotion’s return to Sydney, Australia in February, Strickland was intent on reclaiming the middleweight strap he surrendered to Dricus Du Plessis a 12 months earlier. Sadly, ‘Tarzan’ would fail to take action, delivering a lackluster efficiency in The Land Down Below and surrendering a decisive unanimous choice victory to the South African star.
Having beforehand labored with Strickland at Excessive Couture, Borralho had nothing however good issues to say about Strickland’s conduct within the fitness center. So far as his efficiency at UFC 312… Effectively, that’s one other challenge altogether.
“I like Strickland, actually. He has always been a good guy to me, you know? He always treated me well,” Borralho mentioned on the JAXXON Podcast with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. “Once I was in Excessive Couture, he at all times supplied the whole lot—’Oh, you wish to use the cage? You’re a part of the household; you need to use the cage.’ And he didn’t even know me that a lot but, you already know? So I just like the man.
As for his combating model, it’s stress, you already know? He at all times applies stress. However I feel in his final struggle, he underperformed. I feel so. I feel he underperformed for certain. Props to Dricus as a result of he made the precise changes within the struggle and from the earlier struggle. However I feel Strickland underperformed.”
Caio Borralho closing in on his first title alternative
Borralho bagged the largest win of his profession in August, besting Jared Cannonier at a Combat Night time occasion in Las Vegas. It was the Brazilian’s seventh straight win contained in the Octagon and seventeenth general.
Extra importantly, it moved ‘The Natural’ into the No. 6 spot within the middleweight rankings, placing him in prime place for a title alternative. In fact, with Khamzat Chimaev virtually assured the following shot at Du Plessis, Borralho will possible must exit and win yet another towards a top-five opponent earlier than receiving his first shot at UFC gold.