As Yousri Belgaroui prepares to step inside the Octagon for the fourth time under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner, his training camp is brimming with quiet confidence. The Dutch middleweight has enjoyed an explosive start to his UFC career, stopping all three of his promotional opponents via technical knockout. However, his next assignment represents a steep escalation in competition. Belgaroui is scheduled to face elite middleweight contender Caio Borralho at UFC 334 on November 14, in a pivotal matchup that promises to test the true ceiling of his mixed martial arts potential.
While Belgaroui’s elite-level striking has never been in doubt—having established a formidable reputation during his decorated career in kickboxing—it is his rapidly evolving grappling game that has caught the attention of his head coach. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira firmly believes that his fighter’s growing confidence, comfort, and technical proficiency on the ground will serve as the X-factor against a seasoned, high-level operator like Borralho.
Glover Teixeira Credits Yousri Belgaroui’s Extra Grappling Work Ahead of Caio Borralho at UFC 334
According to Teixeira, who oversees Belgaroui’s daily preparations, the Dutch middleweight’s willingness to push past the limits of a standard training session has been the catalyst for his transformation. While many fighters are eager to shed their four-ounce gloves and leave the gym the moment a grueling sparring session concludes, Belgaroui has cultivated a reputation for burning the midnight oil on the mats, deliberately seeking out wrestling and jiu-junction exchanges when his body is already fatigued.
"Yousri trains a lot and picks things up very quickly. And he likes training on the ground," Teixeira said when discussing his fighter’s daily work ethic. "Sometimes we finish training, everyone is tired, and he grabs someone doing wrestling or jiu-jitsu and rolls for another 20 minutes."
This steadfast commitment to self-improvement is precisely what gives Teixeira immense faith in his pupil as they stare down the biggest challenge of his mixed martial arts career thus far. Transitioning from a world-class striker into a well-rounded mixed martial artist is notoriously difficult, but Belgaroui’s dedication to closing the gaps in his grappling has allowed him to develop at an accelerated pace.
The upcoming matchup at UFC 334 will ultimately serve as a litmus test, answering whether Belgaroui can seamlessly weave his devastating striking pedigree together with the substantial grappling improvements highlighted by his legendary coach. Teixeira, whose rich life story and legendary career inside the cage are detailed in his upcoming book titled "Breaking the Rules," which is set to be released in December, emphasized that distance management and defensive maturity on the canvas will be critical tactical elements on November 14.
"One step at a time. Caio is without a doubt one of the biggest challenges in the division, but Yousri has an impressive sense of distance and is getting more and more confident in his grappling," Teixeira explained, offering a measured and analytical perspective on the matchup. "There’s no doubt he’s becoming a complete MMA fighter and he’ll be very well prepared for this fight."
While Belgaroui enters the bout riding the momentum of three consecutive stoppage victories, his opponent brings a wealth of high-level experience and tactical savvy into the contest. Caio Borralho is widely recognized as one of the most intellectually gifted and strategically sound competitors in the 185-pound weight class, boasting a pristine promotional record and a reputation for neutralizing dangerous opponents. Borralho most recently added another prestigious victory to his resume in March, putting on a technical masterclass to defeat the highly regarded Reinier de Ridder by way of unanimous decision.
For Borralho, a victory over an surging knockout artist like Belgaroui solidifies his standing near the absolute pinnacle of the division. Conversely, for Belgaroui, the stakes could not be higher. The bout offers an immediate, high-reward opportunity to leapfrog the middleweight rankings and stake a legitimate claim as a threat to the division’s elite.
Ultimately, Teixeira’s assessment of the fight shifts the focus away from the highlight-reel finishes that defined Belgaroui’s first three UFC outings. Instead, the veteran coach points to the monotonous, grueling hours spent on the mats—the invisible work done far away from the television cameras and cheering crowds—as the foundation that will carry his fighter through the fire at UFC 334. Through discipline, extra wrestling rounds, and an expanding technical toolbox, Belgaroui is systematically building the complete skill set required to navigate the perilous waters of the UFC middleweight division.
