UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho Fight Card, Predictions, & Odds

The pivotal middleweight showdown between ranked contenders Jared Cannonier and Caio Borralho will headline the main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night inside the APEX Center in Las Vegas. Cannonier looks to bounce back from his previous defeat and return to the win column against Borralho.

A top 15 middleweight fight AND the #TUF32 finale?!#UFCVegas96 is high stakes! 💥

[ LIVE on @ESPNPlus & @ESPN | 10pmPT/7pmET ] pic.twitter.com/qM4S29Ui6w

— UFC (@ufc) August 19, 2024

“The Killa Gorilla” is tagged as the underdog with +165 UFC odds against “The Natural,” who heads into the match as the -200 betting favorite. Their age difference of almost a decade and current form are the two biggest factors in their roles at BetMGM’s online sportsbook.

Jared Cannonier Recent Fight Results

Cannonier made his octagon debut in January 2015 as a heavyweight. He finally found his home in the middleweight division in November 2018 when he TKO’d David Branch in his first match in the 185-pound weight class.

Since moving down, Cannonier has accumulated six wins and three losses. His most recent fight was a defeat at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in June, where he was on the other end of a TKO finish in the fourth round.

Caio Borralho Recent Fight Results

Borralho was a former Future FC champion before he joined the Dana White Contender Series in April 2022. He needed two wins in the competition before he earned a roster spot for the Las Vegas-based promotion. The Brazilian prospect had a dream start to his UFC career with a unanimous decision against Gadzhi Omargadzhiev in April 2022 in his debut.

Following that incredible win, he swept his next five fights, winning over Armen Petrosyan, Makhmud Muradov, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Abus Magomedov, and Paul Craig. These triumphs allowed him to secure the No. 12 spot in the division’s rankings.

Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho: Tale of the Tape

Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho: Fight Analysis

The tale of the tape of Cannonier and Borralho reveals their different advantages against each other. The former will have 2.5 inches of reach and a higher finish rate, while the latter will enjoy 2 inches of height and 0.5 inches of leg reach edge.

The age difference is the most intriguing factor in the match because it is a double-edged sword. Cannonier is nine years older than Borralho, which can be advantageous for him in terms of experience and maturity, but Borralho, at just 31 years old, will have athleticism and youth on his side.

Stylistically, though, this match favors the young Brazilian contender due to his well-rounded approach of mixed martial arts compared to Cannonier’s striking base fight style. This leads to a contrast between the fight plan and strategy.

Cannonier needs to keep this match on the feet to give him the best chance of winning the fight. He should invite Borralho to march at him and counter with his vicious one-shot knockout power. Furthermore, he must defend the takedown attempts and maneuver out of submission threats.

Meanwhile, Borralho should mix his attack during the match and avoid exchanging strikes with Cannonier. He should aim for early takedowns, which can gas him out and nullify the threat of his powerful punches.

Once Cannonier slows down, Borralho should double down on dragging him down the mat and work his way into a submission technique to try and force his opponent to a tap, much like he did Oleksiejczuk in April 2023.

Official Prediction: Submission victory for Caio Borralho.