Coach of Fighting Nerds Embraces Losses as Key to UFC Success
Most coaches dread defeats inside the UFC, but Pablo Sucupira, head coach of Fighting Nerds, sees setbacks as the ultimate teaching tool. His team, which includes names like Caio Borralho, Mauricio Ruffy, and Jean Silva, has quickly built a reputation for tactical preparation and technical precision. Yet when two of his athletes fell short at UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho, Sucupira’s reaction raised eyebrows.
Sean Strickland Calls Out Borralho
Strickland didn’t hold back in criticizing Borralho’s decision to serve as a backup for UFC 319, where Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis headline for the middleweight title. According to Strickland, Borralho’s camp was derailed by unnecessary weight cuts.
Caio is my buddy but hes an idiot. He trained with us and was useless.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) September 7, 2025
Me "whats wrong with you"
Caio "Im cutting, im an alternate"
So you're giving up 4 weeks of your camp cutting weight twice while having a fight coming up?
Whoever told you to do that, please hit him
For Strickland, who is known for blunt analysis, the bottom line was simple: poor decision-making cost Borralho his camp edge.
Imavov’s Team Says It Was a Strategy
Imavov’s camp revealed they pulled out of the backup role intentionally, betting their opponent’s ego would make him step in—and compromise his preparation.
Nassourdine Imavov says he was originally scheduled to weigh in as backup for Chimaev vs Du Plessis but chose not to because he knew Caio Borralho would instead due to his “Ego”.
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) September 2, 2025
Imavov says it was all part of their strategy headed into the UFC Paris main event. pic.twitter.com/yN32NNdwJn
“We knew Caio would jump on that role,” explained manager Yunes Ben. “That mistake set him back.”
Learning From Defeat: The Prates Story
Another team member, Carlos Prates, took his loss against rising star Ian Machado Garry (Fight: Machado Garry vs. Prates) and turned it into victory over Geoff Neal by knockout (Fight: Prates vs. Neal). A textbook example of Sucupira’s philosophy in action.
Shaping Smarter, Tougher Fighters
Sucupira believes early setbacks build resilience. The Fighting Nerds’ emphasis on adaptation under duress may pay dividends—as demonstrated by Prates and now, potentially, Borralho and Ruffy.
FAQs About Fighting Nerds and UFC Paris
Who is the head coach of Fighting Nerds?
Pablo Sucupira is the head coach of the Fighting Nerds team, overseeing fighters like Caio Borralho, Mauricio Ruffy, and Jean Silva.
What did Sean Strickland say about Caio Borralho?
Strickland called Borralho “an idiot” for agreeing to make weight twice as a UFC 319 backup, which he believes compromised his UFC Paris performance.
Did any Fighting Nerds fighter win after UFC Paris?
Yes. Carlos Prates rebounded from his loss by scoring a knockout win over Geoff Neal in a subsequent bout.
Why does the Fighting Nerds coach like losses?
Coach Sucupira sees early losses as critical learning experiences that help fighters correct weaknesses before title-level competition.
