Cooper Albers previews Andre Lima vs. Kevin Borjas at UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi.
Undefeated flyweight prospect Andre Lima returns to the Octagon on Saturday night, taking on Kevin Borjas inside the Meta APEX at UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi.
Lima (11–0, 4–0 UFC) has been shelved for over a year, looking to build on the first submission win of his career against Daniel Barez in March 2025. Borjas (10–5, 1–4 UFC) has dropped all but one of his Octagon appearances, now looking to bounce back from February’s second-round TKO from Imanol Rodriguez.
Lima enters as an overwhelming -650 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Borjas is a +470 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Andre Lima hasn’t followed the typical path of an undefeated prospect. The 27-year-old Brazilian famously won his 2024 UFC debut via disqualification after his opponent pulled a Mike Tyson and bit his bicep. He improved to 4–0 inside the Octagon — punctuated by the first submission victory of his career against Daniel Barez in March 2025 — before a string of canceled bouts sidelined him for more than a year.
Back in action on Saturday, “Mascote” can finally begin his climb up the flyweight rankings. And he certainly has the tools to do so. An elite kickboxer with a high fight IQ, Lima has secured six of his 11 pro wins inside the distance, highlighted by five knockouts. He’s also not afraid to mix in some grappling, as made evident by the Barez victory. Lima will look to put it all on display as he attempts to remind the flyweight division what it’s been missing.
The Octagon has not been kind to Kevin Borjas. The 28-year-old Peruvian has gone just 1–4 since his UFC debut, his lone win a unanimous decision over Ronaldo Rodriguez more than a year ago. Two of those losses came via second-round TKO, including his last trip to the cage against another surging prospect, Imanol Rodriguez.
“El Gallo Negro” — who secured his first eight pro wins by knockout or TKO — has yet to showcase his fight-ending ability in MMA’s flagship promotion. While the scrappy contender could flip the script with a massive upset on Saturday, his track record paints that feat as a precipitous hill to climb.
There are levels to this. Lima is one of the more complete rising prospects on the flyweight roster, well-equipped to capitalize against an opponent like Borjas, who has looked out of his depth since joining the UFC. Riding an impressive stoppage victory, Lima should pick up where he left off and beat Borjas inside the distance.
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