Imavov's Redemption Arc: Can He Silence Borralho's Rising Momentum?

The UFC is heading back to Paris on September 6 for its fourth annual stop in France, and the matchup everyone’s talking about is headlining UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Nassourdine Imavov faces Caio Borralho in what shapes up as the most compelling middleweight showdown of the season. Both fighters are knocking on the door of title contention, making this one a legitimate statement-maker.

The King’s Return: Imavov’s Hot Streak

Let’s talk about Nassourdine Imavov’s recent ascent. The Russian middleweight (16-4-0-1) has been on an absolute tear lately. His knockout victory over Jared Cannonier last June was a masterclass in striking evolution—Imavov went from trailing on scorecards into the fourth round to dismantling one of the division’s toughest competitors with 73 percent striking accuracy in that final stanza. That performance was just the appetizer.

Then came February’s blockbuster moment. Imavov dethroned Israel Adesanya with a second-round TKO, vaulting himself to the No. 2 spot in the middleweight rankings. Adesanya, a former champion and multiple-time title challenger, getting stopped cleanly by Imavov? That’s the kind of resume-builder that changes a fighter’s entire trajectory. His unanimous decision win over Brendan Allen in Paris just months earlier had already established him as a legitimate threat to the title picture.

Before his recent run, Imavov wasn’t always getting the spotlight. He dropped a unanimous decision to Sean Strickland back in 2023 at light heavyweight (when Strickland stepped in on short notice), fought to a no-contest against Chris Curtis due to a clash of heads, but then strung together consecutive wins over Roman Dolidze, Cannonier, Allen, and Adesanya. That’s championship-level consistency.

The Challenger: Borralho’s Underrated Climb

On the flip side, Caio Borralho isn’t some unproven newcomer. The Brazilian (17-1-0-1) earned his UFC deal on Dana White’s Contender Series after fighting his way through that gauntlet, eventually grabbing a contract with a first-round TKO at light heavyweight. Once he settled in at middleweight, Borralho became a problem.

His recent highlight reel includes a stunning second-round knockout of Paul Craig and an epic five-round war with Jared Cannonier that both fighters won “Fight of the Night” honors. That Cannonier bout was Borralho’s first main event showing, and he didn’t just win—he showed composure, ring generalship, and the kind of technical wrestling that frustrates strikers. Currently ranked No. 7 in the middleweight division, Borralho represents the hungry challenger energy that Imavov might be underestimating.

The Stakes

This fight matters because the winner positions themselves as the next title challenger. Imavov’s recent dominance over elite competition like Adesanya and Cannonier gives him the stronger claim, but Borralho’s undefeated UFC streak and decision-making in high-pressure moments make him a dark horse nobody should sleep on.

UFC Paris Full Card

Main Card (3 p.m. ET on ESPN+):

• Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho
• Benoît Saint Denis vs. Maurício Ruffy
• Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones
• Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig
• Patrício Pitbull vs. Losene Keita

Preliminary Card (noon ET on ESPN+):

• William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchała
• Oumar Sy vs. Brendson Ribeiro
• Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija
• Rhys McKee vs. Axel Sola
• Sam Patterson vs. Trey Waters
• Brad Tavares vs. Robert Bryczek
• Andreas Gustafsson vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
• Shauna Bannon vs. Sam Hughes

The question now is whether Imavov’s momentum carries him past Borralho’s technical wrestling and methodical pressure, or if Borralho proves that Imavov’s recent wins are less about dominance and more about matchups falling in his favor. Either way, the middleweight division is about to get a lot clearer on who’s ready for a title shot.