Caio Borralho questions 'scary dude' Jared Cannonier's hunger to be best middleweight at 40

LAS VEGAS – ‘Fighting is a young man’s sport’ is one of MMA’s oldest and most true sayings. For Caio Borralho, it’s one that will be in play for his next career move.

This Saturday, the rising Brazilian contender takes on 40-year-old veteran Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC on ESPN 62, which takes place at the UFC Apex.

Borralho (16-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who’s nine years younger than Cannonier (17-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC), wonders how much hunger and fight Cannonier has left in him at this stage in his career. He thinks that will be a determining factor in whether he finishes the former UFC title challenger.

“I think it can go either way (decision or finish),” Borralho said on Wednesday at the UFC on ESPN 62 media day. “It just depends on how prepared he is and how much he wants it. At 40 years old, let’s see how much he wants to stay in the position that he is and to go again for the belt and something like that.

“I’m prepared. I worked my ass off for this fight, and I think I deserve this victory. Let’s just see how prepared he’s going to come, and see how prepared he comes for me. I’m going to push the pace, I’m going to make the rhythm high at all times and let’s see how he behaves in the fight. It all depends on him and if he came very well-prepared. … I’m prepared to knock him out or finish him because I have the ground game, and he doesn’t have that much, so let’s see how Jared comes.”

Despite questioning his hunger to be the best at 185 pounds, Borralho still finds his opponent a formidable challenge. He does not underestimate Cannonier and has plenty of respect for him.

“I think he’s a very experienced guy, very explosive and has power in his hands,” Borralho said. “He knows how to take the fight where he wants it to go. Definitely an experienced guy. He’s faced a lot of tough opponents. All respect to Jared, but it’s my time now.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.