Nassourdine Imavov beats Caio Borralho in Paris, then issued a title problem to UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
Revealed On 7 Sep 2025
Nassourdine Imavov outlasted Caio Borralho in the principle occasion of UFC Battle Evening in France, incomes a unanimous determination and consolidating his declare as a possible title challenger to middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
Imavov, combating in entrance of his house crowd at Accor Area in Paris, secured a fifth straight UFC victory, with the three judges delivering a transparent win for the 84kg (185-pound) fighter: 50-45, 49-46, 49-46.
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The Saturday night time bout was one-sided, with Imavov (20-4 MMA) controlling the gap for the combat’s period with clear boxing and strain quantity, not permitting Borralho (17-2 MMA) to search out openings, as he entered the competition with an imposing 62 p.c of his wins by both KO/TKO or submission.
Imanov, who laid declare to the UFC middleweight division’s No 2 rating, was onerous on himself about not ending Borralho as he had deliberate.
Regardless of not incomes a stoppage victory, he had one message for Chimaev (15-0 MMA).
“I’m subsequent,” Imavov mentioned as the gang erupted throughout his post-fight speech. “[Borralho] was unbeaten for 10 years. I simply beat him, and beat him with model as nicely. I should be the following one [to fight for the UFC middleweight title].”
The loss for the No 7-ranked Borralho marked his first contained in the UFC. After the combat, he acknowledged Imavov as one of many hardest opponents of his profession.
“Thanks, Nassourdine, for the respect,” Borralho mentioned. “Thanks a lot… I feel Nassourdine was the higher man right this moment. He was very quick, as I used to be anticipating. He did superb within the combat. I couldn’t actually adapt [my strategy] that a lot. I needed to make this combat entertaining for the followers and the UFC. So, I attempted to strike with top-of-the-line strikers on the earth, and that’s what you guys noticed: a fantastic conflict.”
Within the co-headline combat, light-weight Benoit Saint Denis secured a rear-naked choke over Mauricio Ruffy at 2:56 of the second spherical.
Saint Denis (15-3 MMA) obtained a big elevate from the hometown crowd and have become the primary fighter to submit Ruffy (12-2 MMA) in his profession.
Ruffy’s loss to Saint Denis snapped a seven-fight successful streak relationship again to November 2019.
