As he approaches the biggest test of his young Ultimate Fighting Championship career, middleweight rising star Yousri Belgaroui is leaving nothing to chance. The Dutch contender is currently sharpening his skills at Teixeira MMA & Fitness, putting himself through grueling preparation alongside elite company, including former UFC champions Alex Pereira and Glover Teixeira.
Belgaroui is scheduled to face dangerous Brazilian contender Caio Borralho in a high-stakes middleweight bout at UFC 334. The event is set to take place on November 14 at the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ahead of this pivotal career moment, the Dutchman recently opened up about his intensive training camp at Teixeira MMA, detailing the immense benefits of training side-by-side with legendary fighters who have reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
Yousri Belgaroui Opens Up About ‘Growing Every Day’ With Former UFC Champs
Belgaroui firmly believes that his overall mixed martial arts skill set is improving with each passing day under the guidance of his elite training partners and coaches. The former high-level kickboxer, who famously fought Pereira three times during their storied professional kickboxing careers, now considers the superstar known as "Poatan" to be the absolute best striker in the world.
Beyond sharpening his world-class striking alongside Pereira, Belgaroui is heavily investing in evolving his ground game under the direct supervision of Teixeira. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is helping Belgaroui bridge the gap in his grappling. While many traditional strikers tend to rely exclusively on standard jiu-jitsu when the fight hits the canvas, Teixeira is actively instilling a high-level wrestling foundation into the European striker’s repertoire.
“I have been growing every day,” Belgaroui said in a pre-fight interview leading up to the Madison Square Garden card. “We always make it hard training. The striking from Alex is the No. 1 striking in the world ever. And Glover’s wrestling. So, together, they help me so much. And Glover’s wrestling style, instead of just the jiu-jitsu, which a lot of strikers go into. For me, that transition phase, that wrestling phase is so important and added to my game, that made me who I am.”
The relationship between Belgaroui and Pereira is rooted in a rich history of combat sports rivalry and mutual respect. Belgaroui actually defeated Pereira in their very first kickboxing encounter back in 2017. However, the powerhouse Brazilian adjusted in their subsequent meetings, stopping Belgaroui in their highly anticipated rematch before securing a definitive knockout victory in their trilogy fight in 2018. Rather than letting past defeats define their dynamic, the two elite strikers have forged a powerful alliance inside the gym, using their shared experiences to push one another to new heights.
Belgaroui enters this upcoming UFC 334 assignment carrying significant momentum. Holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 11-3, the Dutch striker successfully punched his ticket to the premier MMA organization by earning a hard-fought UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. Since making his promotional debut, Belgaroui has wasted no time making a statement in the talent-rich middleweight division, managing to finish all three of his opponents inside the Octagon thus far.
On the other side of the Octagon stands Caio Borralho, who presents the toughest challenge of Belgaroui’s organizational tenure. Borralho boasts an impressive professional resume of 18 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no-contest. Over the course of his dominant UFC run, Borralho has established himself as a legitimate elite contender, suffering his lone organizational defeat against fellow top-tier contender Nassourdine Imavov across nine total Octagon appearances. The Brazilian arrives at Madison Square Garden riding high following a statement-making victory over veteran grappling standout Reinier de Ridder.
For Belgaroui, a victory over a seasoned and heavily ranked opponent like Borralho would serve as a massive statement, instantly thrusting him into the upper echelon of the 185-pound weight class and bringing him significantly closer to the division’s championship picture. Confident in his evolution and the unique skill set he has developed alongside Pereira and Teixeira, the surging contender believes he is only scratching the surface of his potential.
"There are tricks up my sleeve people haven’t seen," Belgaroui noted as anticipation builds for the UFC 334 fight card at Madison Square Garden.
