caio borralho declared his Fighting Nerds camp is in the middle of a ‘comeback season’ and vowed that ‘nobody is going to stop that’ as he prepares to meet Reinier de Ridder in the co-main event of UFC 326 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The middleweight contender is aiming to rebound from a unanimous decision loss and push back toward the top of the division. The matchup carries added stakes because de Ridder returns after serious health complications following UFC Vancouver.
Caio Borralho sets tone: ‘Nobody is going to stop that’
At the UFC 326 media day on Wednesday (ET), Caio Borralho, middleweight contender and member of The Fighting Nerds, spoke with urgency about his team’s recovery and his personal mission. “Yeah, it’s the comeback season, and nobody is going to stop that, ” he said, framing the bout as part of a broader return to form for his camp. Borralho emphasized rebuilding connections inside his team and cited the collective rebound of teammates as evidence the process is working.
De Ridder’s health scare raises the stakes
Reinier de Ridder, former two-division champion in ONE, disclosed severe medical issues after UFC Vancouver that left him with very low red blood cell counts and severe anemia. De Ridder said the collapse during that fight and an intense schedule of five fights in 11 months left him struggling to walk up stairs and unable to complete training sessions, prompting questions about whether his career was in jeopardy. He has since returned to action and will meet Borralho in the co-main event, making Saturday’s fight a critical test of recovery versus momentum.
Immediate reactions from the fighters and the camp
Caio Borralho, middleweight contender and member of The Fighting Nerds, framed the matchup as a proof point for his team’s resurgence: “We got back with our team. We got the connection back. We put our feet on the ground a little more, and you guys are seeing the results. I’m just proud of the guys. “
Reinier de Ridder, former two-division champion in ONE, reflected on the physical toll that followed UFC Vancouver and the long path back: “There were a couple weeks there, [where] I couldn’t complete a training session, I couldn’t walk up the stairs without being tired. So, there was a little while there thinking, ‘I might never fix this stuff. It might be over. ‘” De Ridder said he found a diagnosis to work from and has returned to competition.
Quick context
Borralho is coming off a unanimous decision loss and remains near the top of the middleweight rankings; a win over de Ridder could move him closer to a top-five berth. De Ridder had been a rising presence after signing with the promotion and winning his first four fights, but he was stopped in the bout at UFC Vancouver and later identified severe anemia and low red blood cell counts as part of the problem.
What’s next
All eyes will be on the co-main event Saturday to see whether caio borralho’s predicted ‘comeback season’ gains momentum or whether Reinier de Ridder’s return from medical adversity reshapes the middleweight pecking order. Fight results will determine immediate trajectory for both men and set the terms for their next steps in the division; officials and camps are expected to outline plans after the event concludes.
