Split image of Nassourdine Imavov and Khamzat Chimaev after fights with an inset of Daniel Cormier: Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Mike Roach/GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Daniel Cormier explains the reason why Nassourdine Imavov might not get the next shot at Khamzat Chimaev

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By James Sweetnam | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 5:07 PM ET

Nassourdine Imavov might not get his opportunity to face Khamzat Chimaev anytime soon, says Daniel Cormier.

On Saturday night, the Frenchman dominated Caio Borralho to win via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Paris.

After the contest, Chimaev was quick to praise Imavov’s fight, with many hoping the pair would move towards setting foot inside the cage with each other.

However, ‘DC’ doesn’t think it’s likely to happen next.

Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

Daniel Cormier says Nassourdine Imavov might’ve needed a stoppage to fight Khamzat Chimaev

Daniel Cormier was very impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s performance over the weekend.

However, he fears it might not have been enough to get the opportunity to face Khamzat Chimaev.

In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the two-weight UFC champion said: “When you’re in the situation that Imavov was in tonight and you get a dominant win like that, make no mistake about it, 4-1 on two scorecards, 5-0 on one scorecard, that’s a dominant win over a very good guy. But is it enough?

“Is it enough for people to go, ‘I don’t care what I see in Anthony Hernandez vs Reinier de Ridder, I know that I watched my No. 1 contender fight when I watched UFC Paris’?

“I don’t like judging on a sliding scale, but being that he was first, being that he was dominant, I think today, people will rush to say he’s the No. 1 contender.

“But I think that because it wasn’t a finish between either, I think people will want to wait and see, because if ‘Fluffy’ can replicate what he did in the last fight. They’ll go, ‘That’s more impressive. That seems more dangerous to Khamzat Chimaev.’

“I think [Imavov] did amazing, but I don’t know if it solidified him, and that’s an unfortunate part of mixed martial arts.

“If you’re Caio Borralho and you watched (Imavov) fight Israel Adesanya, who is an amazing striker, and beat him in the way that he did, you would think the only way to go and get a victory is to get takedowns. He got none. He struggled. He was very rarely able to get close to takedowns.

“I think he continues to show the evolution of Imavov’s game. He just gets better and better every time we see him inside the octagon.”