Caio Machado will do battle with Tom Breese at UAE Warriors 67 on January 31st in the main event. The 31-year-old has been getting steady first-round finishes heading into this Breese bout, and when it was mentioned how this speaks volumes to what he has been able to do since leaving the UFC, Caio Machado said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, like it’s been four, with the December fight, that was four first round finishes I think. Like I got three or four strikes landed on me during those four bouts. So it’s been pretty good for me. Like the move to light heavyweight was the best decision for my career. I’ve been finally, like since the the UFC loss, I’ve been finally wearing that weight a little bit better, more acclimatized to it, and since then was only wins. I believe a win right now would definitely put me back on the UFC list to come back now in 2026.”
Now fighting someone like Tom Breese, who previously was in the UFC and has that PFL experience, Machado is well positioned for a meaningful feather in the cap if he gets his dieal outcome. When it was referenced that he fighting a pedigreed opponent that would get him back into those UFC signee conversations, Machado quipped [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, for sure. Like, I believe Tom is like that should be the most experienced guy I ever faced. Again, as you said, PFL experience, UFC experience. He [is] also southpaw, kind of awkward southpaw, very south paw standing, but it’s going to be a good fight. I think good result for me right now [is] definitely going to put some eyes on me again.”
When asked what he thought some of Breese’s better skills in the cage are, Caio Machado stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“From what I’ve been able to see, which is there’s a lot of stuff right there. So he’s a well-rounded fighter. He can strike. He can grapple. He definitely has a more; he leans more towards his grappling style. He has a lot of finishes. I see he’s very good on his traditional game. Has really good double leg takedowns. It’s a guy that like can shoot from the center of the cage and can take people down with kind of ease.”
“But I have seen some holes too. I don’t want to get into too much details on it of course. But I see a path where I can work my way around it too. From what I understood, he also fought at welterweight at some point. Like even you put some muscle, you have a; he’s a big guy and all. Like there’s a build like; as a guy that being in a heavier division that I supposed to, I know, like doesn’t matter. If you weigh the same, your body will treat you different.”
Caio Machado is “working towards getting a finish right off the bat” at UAE Warriors 67
Caio Machado also touched on how the body composition pieces are different between the two fighters, even though the number on the scale is reading the same for both, Caio Machado quipped [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“100%. Like again, like I don’t think I could make 170 since like probably seven or eighth grade. So, I don’t see how he he can do, he can fight. I think inside the UFC at welterweight and still managed to like put in good numbers at 205. Like the body definitely going to feel it a little bit.”
When asked about the body composition differences between the two in the context of his recent run of first-round finishes, and if that can inform another finish in the opening round here, Caio Machado said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Like, I’m always looking for the finish. I’m a guy that I’m going to be building and working towards getting a finish right off the bat. Everything it shows is to end the fight. At this new division, I can feel the power. It’s been transferred to me so much better.”
“I’m knocking people out at 205 and definitely as we said, the body composition being different. That’s definitely on my books but I’m not just going to rush in to do it, so. But like definitely going to like start a construction, build my way into knocking him out right away. If I can get another first round KO, it’s going to be even better.”
