Nassourdine Imavov put on a clinic against Caio Borralho in the headliner of UFC Fight Night. He came away with the decision victory by way of unanimous decision at Accor Arena in Paris, France. This triumph marked Imavov’s fifth consecutive win in the UFC, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the middleweight division. All three judges had Imavov winning the bout 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46. His mastery of sweet science was on display for all to see during each round.
From the opening bell, Imavov led the way on the long road. He deployed stinging boxing fundamentals and maintained a ferocious pace. When Borralho did get an opportunity, Rodrigues made sure to shut him down from every angle. This strategic move deprived his opponent of nearly any opportunity to counterattack. With this victory, Imavov would raise his mixed martial arts record to 20 wins and 4 losses.
This fight was very personal for Borralho. It was a harrowing loss in the UFC for him after an amazing unbeaten run that stretched a decade. Though this was an unfortunate moment for Borralho, he showed serious grit during the fight that had impressed fans and commentators, and for good reason.
In his post fight interview, Imavov was greeted with a raucous ovation by the home crowd. He expressed his desire for a title shot against the reigning UFC middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, stating emphatically, “I am next.” Unsurprisingly, Imavov named Borralho as one of his most difficult opponents. He was harder on himself than anybody for not being able to finish the fight in a manner befitting what he’d set out to do.
Combined with Imavov’s victory, the result catapulted him to the No. 2 ranking in the UFC middleweight division. More than that, this victory paved the way for a possible title fight. The UFC president made sure to get that message across to Chimaev. He’s championship bound, set to face the current champion and go for the gold!
By the end of that night, fans were raving about Imavov’s dynamic display. Despite this success, observers were impressed with his desire to push further up the ladder of success. He controlled the action brilliantly, making adjustments with Borralho’s gameplan that allowed him to floor his opponent. This performance defined him as the man to beat in the middleweight division.
