The UFC world is buzzing with anticipation as two rising middleweight contenders prepare to clash in what promises to be an explosive encounter. When original plans fall through, new opportunities emerge, and that’s exactly what happened with the upcoming UFC Paris event.
The path to this September showdown took an interesting twist when Nassourdine Imavov made a bold decision. The French-Chechen fighter was originally slated to serve as the backup for the middleweight title fight between champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago. However, Imavov chose to withdraw from that backup role to stay active and maintain his momentum in the division. This strategic move opened the door for a fascinating matchup against Caio Borralho.
Imavov’s decision to step away from the title backup position might have surprised some fans. But it makes perfect sense from a career perspective. The 30-year-old fighter is riding high on a five fight winning streak and coming off a knockout victory over former champion Israel Adesanya in February. Sitting on the sidelines as a backup fighter would have meant potentially months of inactivity. This could have cooled his momentum. Instead, he chose to headline the UFC’s return to Paris at the Accor Arena on September 6, 2025, giving French fans a chance to see their adopted hometown hero in action.
This decision created the perfect storm for Caio Borralho, who had been persistently asking for this matchup. The Brazilian fighter saw this as his golden opportunity to break into title contention in the stacked middleweight division. With Imavov no longer tied up as a backup fighter, the UFC could finally make the fight that both men wanted. The timing couldn’t be better for Borralho, who has been looking for a big name opponent to test his skills against after his impressive victory over Jared Cannonier.
Caio Borralho Reveals His Bold Battle Plan
The Brazilian has laid out a clear gameplan that sounds both simple and devastating. His strategy revolves around applying constant pressure while looking for the perfect moment to end the fight. Talking to Submission Radio, Borralho plans to close the distance and “touch” Imavov with his punches. He plans on using his aggressive style to overwhelm the French fighter’s defenses.
The 32-year-old Brazilian believes that his relentless pressure will be the key to victory. He’s not planning to dance around the octagon or play it safe for five rounds. Instead, Borralho wants to make Imavov uncomfortable from the opening bell. He wants to force him to fight at a pace that might not suit his natural rhythm. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter that could reshape the middleweight landscape and launch the winner towards a guaranteed title shot.
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