UFC Paris Showdown: Rising Star Imavov Sets Sights on Elite Competition

This September 6, UFC returns to Paris for its fourth consecutive event at the Accor Arena. The headline attraction sees two elite 185-pound contenders collide—a matchup that could reshape middleweight title contention.

The Main Event: A Collision of Momentum

Top-10-ranked Nassourdine Imavov faces fellow contender Caio Borralho in what shapes up as one of the year’s most intriguing middleweight clashes. Imavov, currently ranked No. 2 in the official UFC middleweight standings, brings explosive recent form to the octagon. Borralho enters at No. 7, looking to prove he belongs among the division’s elite tier.

Imavov’s Ascent: From Prospect to Title Contender

The 29-year-old Russian has catapulted himself into title conversation through a remarkable recent stretch. His most stunning victory came in February 2025 when he halted former champion Israel Adesanya via fourth-round TKO—a statement-making performance that immediately elevated his standing.

Before that landmark win, Imavov dispatched Brendan Allen via unanimous decision in Paris, then orchestrated a comeback against Jared Cannonier in Louisville. Against Cannonier, Imavov showcased remarkable adaptability, landing 60%, 65%, and 73% of his significant strikes across rounds two, three, and four respectively. Referee Jason Herzog stopped the fight in the fourth, recognizing Imavov’s dominance despite falling behind on scorecards entering that final round.

The trajectory is notable: Imavov rebuilt after a setback to Sean Strickland in 2023, when Strickland accepted the bout on short notice at light heavyweight and secured a unanimous decision. That loss proved a turning point rather than a setback, as Imavov has since compiled four victories in five outings.

Borralho’s Path: Building an Undefeated Case

Borralho presents a different profile—a 31-year-old Brazilian with technical mastery and unrelenting momentum. His record stands at 17-1 following his UFC journey. Since joining the promotion, Borralho has systematically elevated competition. He earned his contract via Dana White Contender Series at light heavyweight with a first-round TKO, then moved down to middleweight for his UFC debut.

His recent trajectory has been equally impressive: a second-round knockout of Paul Craig followed by a “Fight of the Night” decision victory over former title challenger Jared Cannonier in his first UFC main event appearance. That Cannonier bout demonstrated Borralho’s ability to shine in high-stakes scenarios.

Full UFC Paris Card

Main Card:

• 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: Includes William Gomis, Oumar Sy, Marcin Tybura, Rhys McKee, Sam Patterson, Brad Tavares, Andreas Gustafsson, and Shauna Bannon among others.

Main card streams on ESPN+ at 3:00 p.m. ET, with prelims beginning at noon ET.

Why This Matchup Matters

This isn’t merely another middleweight bout—it’s a potential title eliminator. Imavov’s recent dominance, punctuated by the Adesanya scalp, has positioned him as the division’s most dangerous challenger. Borralho, meanwhile, represents the grinding, technical threat that could test Imavov’s explosiveness and ring generalship.

The winner emerges as the logical title contender, while the loser faces difficult questions about their championship ceiling.