Furious fighting defines Yousri Belgaroui as he steps into Madison Square Garden on Saturday for the most important mixed martial arts bout of his career, NOS Sport reported.
The Dutch middleweight faces Brazil’s Caio Borralho, the sixth-ranked fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Victory over Borralho propels Belgaroui into the upper tier of the division, while defeat forces him backward in the world’s largest combat sports organization. Borralho previously defeated another Dutch fighter, Reinier de Ridder, during the previous year.
“It is the fury he is going to feel,” said Yousri Belgaroui while looking at a fighting glove bearing the three crosses of Amsterdam and the Tunisian flag.
“A deadly mix of Michiel de Ruijter and Hannibal,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport.
From University to Connecticut Farm
Unusual paths led the son of a Tunisian father and a Dutch mother into the professional cage after he studied at the University of Amsterdam. Belgaroui now lives on what he describes as a petting zoo among chickens and goats in the woods of Connecticut, with a long-term goal of running a self-sufficient farm.
The striker began his combat career in kickboxing and fought for the Glory world title before shifting focus to mixed martial arts in 2021. He relocated to the United States alone without a spouse or children to pursue his dream.
“It was a lonely existence of a warrior,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport, reflecting on the initial sacrifices required to chase his dream.
The Road to the Octagon
Initial rejections marked his path when UFC chief Dana White turned him down twice following appearances in the Contender Series. An injury to another athlete opened a sudden door for Belgaroui in October 2025 to face Azamat Bekoev, a Russian competitor riding an eight-fight winning streak.
“They thought I was going to the slaughter,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport, recalling how outsiders viewed his late-notice promotional debut.
A knock-out victory over Bekoev secured his roster spot, followed by two additional victories through 2026. Twelve years of training across various combat disciplines preceded his arrival at this ranking match in New York.
Calmness Replaces Emotion
Relaxation defines his approach ahead of the biggest test of his career against a top contender. Mastery of mixed martial arts requires years of physical and mental conditioning according to the Amsterdam native.
“The place is very special, but the moment is also very special,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport.
“People think that fighters have to be aggressive or angry. Emotion is the last thing you need,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport.
“I’ve had to learn that over the years. Now I’m very cool and very relaxed, and that helps me perform,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport.
“MMA is an art. You have to study it for years. You have to hone it in your body and engrave it in your brain,” Belgaroui told NOS Sport.
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