Caio Borralho He is a Brazilian standout in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
After months of provocations, Caio Borralho will finally come face to face with Nassourdine Imavov. The Brazilian will travel to France to star in the main fight of the UFC Paris, on September 6, and sees the home team as his passport to a belt dispute in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg).
In an interview with 'MMA Junkie', Borralho showed confidence and highlighted that his dominant performance over Jared Cannonier served as proof of his high level, causing other fighters to see him as a real threat in the category. According to “Nerd”, this recognition may have been the main reason for Imavov’s delay in accepting the fight.
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“I think my last performance against Jared Cannonier “I showed everyone my level. What I did to him, no one had ever done in his career. So, I believe that this fight put me in a position where people, I won’t say they were scared, but they started to understand the risks of facing me. Maybe that’s why it took so long (for Imavov to accept the fight)… It’s going to happen now. He can’t run away anymore. I’m going to his city to get him,” said Borralho.
Convinced that the duel against Nassourdine Imavov will define the next challenger for the belt, Caio Borralho He stressed that he sought this fight because he recognized the merit of his opponent, but also because he believed that his time had come. For the representative of 'Fighting Nerds', a victory in Paris will make him impossible to ignore, cementing his name as the next in line for the title, both in the eyes of the UFC and the fans.
“I am 100% sure. Everyone knows this is the number one contender fight. That’s why I wanted this fight for so long, because he deserves this spot, but I also deserve mine. After this fight, I will be undeniable to everyone, to the fans, to the UFC, to the fighters, to myself, to the team, to everyone, that I am the next contender.” Borralho concluded.
Caio Borralho reveals detailed study before duel against Imavov at UFC Paris
Caio Borralho (right) and Nassourdine Imavov (left) are in the main fight of the UFC Paris. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage
Inactive since August 2024, Caio Borralho has always been with Nassourdine Imavov on his radar. The Brazilian said he has been studying Russian for almost a year, based in France, and knows his patterns and movements well.
“I’ve been studying him for almost a year. This is the fight I wanted and it’s already well mapped out. We’re finalizing the details of the patterns and movements he makes. He’s very good, we’re talking about the highest level of the sport. He’s number one, he knocked out Adesanya. He’s a good athlete, fast, confident, and his greatest quality is his speed. In the fight, it will depend on how I position myself so as not to get scared by his speed and gradually take away his energy. There are five rounds, which favors my style, and I’m really excited to make him give up in front of his people,” he said. Caio Borralho to Ag Fight.
Caio Borralho's provocations were fundamental for Imavov to accept the challenge
Before the duel was announced, Caio Borralho spent months campaigning for a fight against Nassourdine Imavov, publicly challenging his rival on multiple occasions. The Frenchman, however, seemed more interested in serving as a reserve for the division's title fight, between Dricus du Plessis e Khamzat Shimaev, at UFC 319, in August, but changed his mind and agreed to star in the third edition of the UFC in the French capital.
In a post on social media, Imavov publicly stated his decision not to serve as a reserve for the title fight and took a swipe at Caio Borralho, stating that he was willing to talk and ready to 'break the Brazilian'.
“I’m not going to be a reserve anymore. Conditions have changed. You wanted to say, son, I’m here, I’m going to break you, Caio Borralho”, wrote the Frenchman.
The Brazilian's response was in an even louder tone.
“You finally stopped hiding, huh? You don’t decide anything, you do what you’re told to do. You’ve tried to avoid this fight for so long and EVERYONE knows it. Now, you’re going to do what you’re told: face me! I make the rules here. Say goodbye to France, I’m sending you back to Dagestan,” he replied.
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