Caio Borralho: Reinier de Ridder will be his best to prove he's no quitter

Caio Borralho knows Reinier de Ridder is seeking redemption after the way he lost his past fight.

De Ridder (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) had his body break down on him in his UFC Fight Night 262 headliner against Brendan Allen, prompting his corner to throw in the towel at the end of Round 4.

De Ridder has since undergone testing to fix his cardio, and Borralho (17-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) believes that after five fights in a year, the activity did take a toll on the former ONE Championship dual-champ. So when the pair throw down in the UFC 326 co-main event March 7 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Borralho won't take de Ridder lightly.

"I'm expecting the best Reinier de Ridder that the world has ever seen," Borralho told MMA Junkie. "He took the time off that he needed to, but besides that, he's coming to prove something to the world, and something to him, that he's not a quitter, and these kinds of things have a lot of power inside.

"So, I think he'll come very good for this fight, very well prepared, and that's what I need, that's what I want, to beat the best guys in their best versions. I think it's going to be a great fight. I think he's going to come in the best shape of his life, the best Reinier de Ridder people ever saw, and this win even bigger and better."

Borralho was on the cusp of title contention until he ran into Nassourdine Imavov, who handed him his first octagon loss. However, if Borralho is able to impress against de Ridder, he doesn't see himself too far away from the title picture.

"I promised to myself that I want to fight twice until August, September," Borralho said. "So, maybe I fight in March, and then get a great knockout that puts me back in the title conversation. I'm not saying straight for the title. It depends how the stars are going to align in the division, but I think a great win like I'm intending to do, with a good knockout and I'm back in the title conversation. Maybe do one more until August, September maximum, and then after that, wait for my shot."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 326: Caio Borralho enters Reinier de Ridder fight with guard up