Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight standouts Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho will clash TONIGHT (Sat., Sept. 6, 2025) at UFC Paris inside Accor Arena in Paris, France.
Imavov is riding one of the best four-fight win streaks in the UFC currently. Since February 2024, he’s beaten up two Top 10-ranked contenders, a former title challenger, and a former champion. It’s hard to do better than that without winning gold, so why hasn’t Imavov been able to claim his shot? Likely, it has something to do with the slow UFC start that saw him cough up decisions to Phil Hawes and Sean Strickland, but fortunately, Imavov has the opportunity here to erase any of that lingering doubt.
Undefeated inside the Octagon, Borralho hasn’t lost a fight since 2015. The first Fighting Nerd to join the UFC roster, Borralho impressed but failed to entertain in his first couple UFC appearances. He upped the aggression in 2023, however, and has since picked up two finishes and three performance bonuses in his last four victories. Like Imavov, Borralho has a chance here to really solidify himself as the No. 1 contender to Khamzat Chimaev’s new throne.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Imavov vs. Borralho Betting Odds
- Nassourdine Imavov victory: +114
- Nassourdine Imavov via TKO/KO/DQ: +400
- Nassourdine Imavov via submission: +1100
- Nassourdine Imavov via decision: +275
- Caio Borralho victory: -135
- Caio Borralho via TKO/KO/DQ: +650
- Caio Borralho via submission: +800
- Caio Borralho via decision: +140
- Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Imavov is a well-rounded martial artist, but he’s a striker first and foremost. A boxer with punishing straight punches and smart combinations, the French talent also has the sneaky, stabbing front kicks that his team in France has made a staple of their attack.
To win this fight, Imavov has to match Borralho from distance. The Brazilian is likely to employ his own jab, kicks, and evasive footwork to try to frustrate Imavov and stay ahead on the points game. Imavov has the tools to win that battle or at least keep it competitive. The ultimate goal is to close distance and start unleashing combinations, because he’s the tighter pocket boxer who doesn’t keep his chin quite so high.
Getting to Borralho without giving up the takedown may be a tricky. Imavov is tasked with working behind the jab here, using it not to maintain distance but to score reads and start combinations while advancing. As is always the case when facing a fighter who operates in that side-on Karate stance, it would be great to see Imavov showing combinations and then kicking at the trail leg to slow Borralho down over time.
Imavov just smoked Israel Adesanya by timing his switches and movement at distance, and similarly well-timed explosions forward with be his key to victory here as well.
Borralho is a really tactical athlete, which requires a fairly deep skill set. You can’t adjust to various opponents with only one approach to combat! He’s very slick on the floor and times his takedowns well, but the most recent improvements have been on the feet, where Borralho has done a much better job of sitting down on his punches.
Lately, fighters like Jared Cannonier and Brendan Allen have really tried to copy Sean Strickland’s success vs. Imavov by pressuring heavily … to limited success. I wouldn’t expect Borralho to apply that strategy. Instead, the Brazilian is likely to make this an all-the-way-in or all-the-way-out fight, meaning he’ll use his footwork to deny Imavov the pocket.
Borralho likes to move at distance and work on the counter anyway. His jab and power kicks should prove effective from long range, particularly if Imavov is walking into them. Then, when he does see that right hand coming, expect to see Borralho change levels and look to bring this fight to the canvas.
It’s not a style likely to sway the boo birds, but it’s Borralho’s best bet to take home the win in enemy territory.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Imavov vs. Borralho Prediction
This is an awesome match up of well-rounded Middleweights in their prime.
Despite the all-around skills of both, there are notable advantages on either side of the equation here. Imavov is clearer the crisper, more fluid hitter, while Borralho is undoubtedly the better grappler. It’s not going to be an outright wash in either area, but whichever man is able to dictate the geography of the fight will walk away the victor.
In that regard, I favor Borralho. All the cogs of his game function very smoothly and allow him to lead the dance, and I also have lingering concerns about Imavov’s five-round conditioning. In a competitive fight, it could well come down to who has just a bit more energy in the last couple rounds.
Prediction: Borralho via decision
MIDDLEWEIGHT MAYHEM! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heads to Accor Arena in Paris, France, on Sat., Sept. 6, 2025, with a must-watch title eliminator. In the main event, top-ranked contender Nassourdine Imavov faces unbeaten rising star, Caio Borralho, in a high-stakes clash scheduled for five, five-minute rounds. In UFC Paris’ co-headliner, all-action Lightweight standouts Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy square off, both aiming to climb closer to the 155-pound title picture. All that and SO MUCH MORE — don’t miss a single second of face-punching action.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Paris fight card, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 3 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Paris: “Imavov vs. Borralho” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
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