Belgaroui’s UFC middleweight breakthrough plan: can he force his way into the elite at 185?

Unranked middleweight Yousri Belgaroui is aiming to break into the UFC’s top tier when he faces fifth-ranked contender Caio Borralho on the main card of Polymarket UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14.

Belgaroui’s pitch for the elite is straightforward: he believes his striking base, sharpened for MMA, is enough to beat the division’s best fighters at 185 pounds, and that he can repeat recent performances against a higher-end opponent.

Since earning his UFC spot via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, Belgaroui has put together three straight knockout wins. UFC officials credit finishes over Azamat Bekoev and Mansur Abdul-Malik with third-round stoppages, followed by a first-round stoppage of Djorden Santos.

In UFC’s account of Belgaroui’s preparation, the physical advantages are treated as part of his matchup equation as well. He is listed at 6-foot-6 with a 79-inch reach, and he has framed his height and athletic build as tools that create problems for opponents trying to close distance and manage his angles.

UFC also highlights the training environment behind Belgaroui’s confidence. He says he has benefited from work at Teixeira MMA & Fitness alongside Alex Pereira and under Glover Teixeira’s tutelage, describing Pereira’s striking and Teixeira’s wrestling as key elements in adapting his game for the Octagon.

Belgaroui views Borralho as the most credible test of his MMA development to date, calling him a smart, all-around fighter whose game plan is likely to be well constructed, but still positioning himself as ready to land the kind of damage that has defined his recent run.