Caio Machado Eyes 2026 UFC return with Tom Breese win at UAE Warriors 67

Caio Machado will battle Tom Breese at UAE Warriors 67 in the main event on January 31. The 31-year-old has been coming off regular first-round results leading up to this Breese fight, and it was then mentioned how this speaks volumes about 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 fight in December, that was four first-round finishes, I think. Like I got three or four strikes on me during those four bouts. So it was pretty good for me. Like moving to light heavyweight was the best decision for my career. I’ve finally, like since the UFC loss, finally started carrying that weight a little bit better, more used to it, and just wins since then. I believe it’s a win. At this point, I would definitely go back on the UFC roster to now return in 2026.

Now that he’s fighting someone like Tom Breese, who was previously in the UFC and who has PFL experience, Machado is well positioned for a meaningful feather in the cap if he gets his final result. When reference was made to the fact that he was fighting an established opponent that would get him back into the conversations with UFC signees, Machado joked [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Yeah, definitely. I believe Tom is the most experienced guy I’ve ever seen. Again, like you said, PFL experience, UFC experience. He [is] also left-pawed, rather clumsy left-pawed, standing very south-pawed, but it will be a good fight. I think it’s a good result for me at the moment [is] I will definitely have another set of eyes on me.”

When asked what he thinks are Breese’s better skills in the cage, Caio Machado responded [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“From what I’ve seen, there’s a lot in there. So he’s a versatile fighter. He can strike. He can wrestle. He definitely has more; he leans more into his wrestling style. He has a lot of finishes. I see him being very good at his traditional game. He can do really good double leg takedowns. He’s a guy who likes to be able to shoot from the middle of the cage and take people down with ease.”

“But I’ve also seen some holes. I don’t want to get into it too much, obviously. But I see a path where I can work around it as well. From what I understand, he also fought at welterweight at one point. Like if you even have some muscle, you have one; he’s a big guy and all that. Like there’s a physique; like a guy who’s in a heavier division that I should know it doesn’t matter. If you weigh the same, your body will treat you differently.”

Caio Machado “working to get an immediate finish” at UAE Warriors 67

Caio Machado also talked about how the body composition of the two fighters differs even though the number on the scale is the same for both, Caio Machado joked [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“100%. Again, I don’t think I could make it to 170 since I would probably be in seventh or eighth grade. So I don’t see how he can do it, he can fight. I think within the UFC he’s a welterweight and still managed to get good numbers at 205. Like the body is definitely going to feel it a little bit.”

When asked about the body composition differences between the two in the context of his recent string of first-round finishes, and whether that could lead to another opening-round finish here, Caio Machado said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“For example, I’m always looking for the finish. I’m a guy that I’m going to build up and work to get a finish right away. All it shows is to finish the fight. With this new division, I can feel the power. It’s transferred to me so much better.”

“I’m knocking people out at 205 and certainly, like we said, the body composition is different. That’s definitely in my books, but I’m not just going in there and doing it, so. But like I definitely want to start building, build my way to knocking him out right away. If I can get another first-round KO, it’ll be even better.”