Teixeira backs unbeaten Belgaroui's grappling evolution ahead of UFC 334 clash with Borralho

Glover Teixeira believes Yousri Belgaroui’s growing confidence on the ground gives the unbeaten Dutch middleweight a genuine path to victory over Caio Borralho at UFC 334 on 14 November. Belgaroui has finished all three of his UFC appearances by technical knockout, but his head coach argues the real development has been happening on the mat.

Teixeira pointed to Belgaroui’s habit of staying on the mats long after his teammates have called it a day as evidence of a fighter who is actively filling gaps in his game.

“Yousri trains a lot and picks things up very quickly. And he likes training on the ground. Sometimes we finish training, everyone is tired, and he grabs someone doing wrestling or jiu-jitsu and rolls for another 20 minutes,” Teixeira said.

The matchup is a significant step up in opposition. Borralho is an established contender who defeated Reinier de Ridder by unanimous decision in March, bringing considerably more UFC experience into the contest. Teixeira acknowledged the difficulty of the task while maintaining confidence in his fighter’s preparation.

“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. There’s no doubt he’s becoming a complete MMA fighter and he’ll be very well prepared for this fight,” Teixeira said.

For Belgaroui, the bout is an opportunity to prove that his finishing record is backed by a well-rounded skill set rather than striking alone. Teixeira’s assessment suggests the extra grappling hours are designed specifically to hold up against more experienced opposition who may look to neutralise his striking by taking the fight to the floor.