Michal Oleksiejczuk teams up with ex-foe Caio Borralho at Fighting Nerds for UFC 314
SÃO PAULO — Caio Borralho tapped Michal Oleksiejczuk with a rear-naked choke in April 2023 to score the fourth of his seven UFC wins on his way to the top of the middleweight class. Two years later, Oleksiejczuk aims to break his losing skid after flying to Brazil and partnering with his past nemesis at Fighting Nerds.
Oleksiejczuk lost his past three in the UFC against Michel Pereira, Kevin Holland and Shara Magomedov, dropping his octagon record to 7-7 and one no-contest. He decided to reach out to Borralho about moving his camp to Sao Paulo, joining one of the hottest MMA teams ahead of his UFC 314 clash with Sedriques Dumas, scheduled for Saturday night in Miami.
“A few years ago I had a fight with Caio, and after the fight, Caio sent me a message and now we are friends,” Oleksiejczuk told MMA Fighting. “And I watched fighters who train in Fighting Nerds [and fight] in the UFC, and fighters who train at Fighting Nerds have a unique style in striking, and it’s very good for me. ‘I must go to Fighting Nerds, I must train with Caio and other fighters.’ And my skill is better now.”
Led by Pablo Sucupira and Flavio Alvaro, Fighting Nerds was named the best MMA team in 2024 after the impeccable UFC rise of Borralho, Jean Silva, Carlos Prates and Mauricio Ruffy. The Polish veteran enters his 30th professional MMA bout Saturday, but feels a different athlete today.
“In my opinion, this is very good choice for me because in Fighting Nerds there are a lot of great fighters,”Oleksiejczuk said. “I have a lot of sparring partners who helped me in preparation, and now I am a complete fighter. My jiu-jitsu, wrestling and striking is very good. I’m ready for great fight. I am ready for a war.”
“Fighting Nerds is a good MMA school,” he continued. “No wrestling, no grappling, no striking, it’s all styles. MMA in Fighting Nerds is good level. Top level.”
Oleksiejczuk will face Dumas at UFC 314, a Florida-based fighter who has won three of five so far in the promotion. Dumas had his raised against Denis Tiuliulin in his most recent appearance back in August 2024, and Oleksiejczuk respects his abilities.
“This is a very important fight for me,” Oleksiejczuk said. “Sedriques Dumas is a great fighter. I’m very excited for this fight. But now, this is my best condition, the best skill in my career. And this is the best preparation. I think this fight will be great for fans, for all people.”
As for Borralho, the man who forced him to tap back in 2023 and has since beat Abus Magomedov, Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier in a span of nine months, Oleksiejczuk predicts he’s meant to become UFC king in the future.
“I think that Caio will be champion maybe this year, or next year,” Oleksiejczuk said. “I see Caio during sparring, during training here, and I think that Caio will be champion. He’s very intelligent fighter. His striking is good, he’s a complete fighter.”