Caio Borralho expressed dissatisfaction with referee Herb Dean's performance in the fight between Bruna Brasil and Ketlen 'Esquentadinha' at UFC Vegas 113. In the all-Brazilian duel, the fighter from Manaus used a cage-control strategy to neutralize the Fighting Nerds athlete and secured a unanimous decision victory , an approach that, according to the middleweight (up to 83,9kg), should have been discouraged by the referee.
In a social media post, 'Nerd' questioned the consistency of Herb Dean's conduct throughout the fight. According to Caio Borralho , the referee had promised, backstage, a stricter approach to situations involving clinching against the cage, something that was not reflected inside the octagon.
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“I want to know what’s happening inside the octagon. Herb goes to the locker room and says, ‘You guys have to work or I’ll break you up against the cage.’ With all due respect, but the girl was just holding onto the cage, and he let her make the fight boring. It doesn’t make sense,” wrote Caio Borralho.
I want to know what's going on in the cage. Herb comes to the lockers and says: “you gotta work or I will separate in the fence” all respect but the girl was just holding on the cage and he did let her make the fight boring. Doesn't make sense 😶
— Caio Borralho (@BorralhoCaio) February 8, 2026
Ketlen Esquentadinha defeated Bruna Brasil at UFC Vegas 113.
Ketlen Esquentadinha defeated Bruna Brasil at UFC Vegas 113. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
The athletes began the duel with distinct strategies. More slender Bruna quickly began moving laterally and using jabs and knees to counter Ketlen's midsection, who dominated the center of the octagon and attempted clinch takedowns against the cage. However, it was Brasil who managed to change levels and take down her opponent briefly. In the final seconds, the Fighting Nerds representative even managed to throw her rival off balance with a calf kick.
"Esquentadinha" (Little Hothead) returned even more aggressively for the second round, risking a flying knee in the opening moments. Bruna avoided most of the attacks and began to smile, provoking her opponent. The two ended up exchanging blows against the cage a few seconds later, but without much action. Ketlen connected with a good uppercut followed by a spinning kick after the two separated, but returned to the strategy of taking the fight to the ground. Unable to throw Brasil off balance, she attacked with knees to the midsection and short punches. Ketlen had her best moment after a jab injured her compatriot's right eye at the end of the round.
After the initial moments locked against the cage, the two resumed exchanging punches at close range. While Bruna sought counter-strikes like knees to the midsection and even a spinning kick, Ketlen hunted down Caio Borralho 's training partner with ferocious punches and kicks. "Esquentadinha" managed a takedown briefly in the final second, but lost the opportunity to get on top. The last 30 seconds of the fight consisted of both exchanging knees in the clinch against the cage.
At the end of the three rounds, all the judges scored it 29-28 in favor of Ketlen, who exploded in euphoria after the official announcement.
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