UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov has responded to the recent fight challenges issued by Caio Borralho.
Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho are both prominent middleweights aiming to climb the ranks towards a divisional title shot. Following Borralho`s public callout and Imavov`s reported refusal, tensions are rising between the two skilled competitors.
Imavov is currently on a high following his impressive win over former UFC champion Israel Adesanya at UFC Saudi Arabia earlier this year. With an unbeaten streak stretching across his last five bouts, Imavov has built a strong case for his next fight to be either a direct title challenge or at minimum, a crucial No. 1 contender matchup.
A title eliminator fight between Imavov and Borralho has been speculated in recent weeks, particularly after Borralho challenged Imavov on social media. However, after Borralho accused Imavov of turning down the fight offer, he publicly expressed his frustration with his fellow middleweight.
Imavov Addresses Borralho`s Allegations of Avoiding a Fight
Imavov and Borralho, alongside fellow contender Khamzat Chimaev, are all considered potential challengers for the belt currently held by UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. While a fight between Imavov and Borralho appears logical given their positions, Imavov explained his reluctance during a recent video blog.
In training footage shared by Championship Rounds, Imavov directly addressed Borralho’s recent callouts.
Regarding Borralho, Imavov stated, “He’ll get knocked out, he’ll be put to sleep. Then they’re gonna say ‘It’s normal, he wasn`t ranked [as high]’… that’s how they manage their careers. You understand, it’s better to move forward than backward. He comes against the top guy, gets defeated. Then they’ll say ‘Well, that’s normal… he’ll recover and come back stronger’.”
He added, “So wait your turn. You have to be patient in life, step by step. People lack patience. Patience is key.”
As of the time of writing, Borralho has not publicly responded to Imavov’s comments. Borralho recently advocated for an interim title bout against Chimaev, citing reports of Dricus du Plessis potentially being sidelined due to injury.
Borralho and Chimaev Reportedly Agreed to UFC 317 Matchup
Borralho recently claimed on social media that he and Chimaev had “agreed” to face off at UFC 317. The two middleweights previously trained together, and resurfaced footage of their sparring sessions has circulated online, with Chimaev often appearing to hold the advantage.
Borralho`s last octagon appearance was a victory over former title challenger Jared Cannonier in a UFC Fight Night main event last August. Chimaev, conversely, solidified his top contender status with a submission win against Robert Whittaker at UFC 294.
Borralho made a significant impact in the middleweight division with a brutal knockout victory over Paul Craig at UFC 301. He currently boasts an impressive 17-fight unbeaten streak.
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