Former UFC middleweight champion: 'Nassourdine Imavov put on a clinic' at UFC Paris

Nassourdine Imavov likely solidified himself as the top contender in the middleweight division with his clear-cut victory over No. 7 ranked Caio Borralho in the UFC Paris main event on Saturday.

Imavov entered the bout ranked No. 2 in the 185-pound weight class. The unanimous decision victory extended his winning streak to five consecutive fights. Former middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker reacted to Imavov's win and said the Russian 'put on a clinic.' 

"Imavov put on a clinic. Not a clinic in such that it was a one-sided fight. A clinic as in it was just really good technical striking. I loved watching it," Whittaker said on the MMArcade Podcast. 

"His counter ability was amazing. He was so fast and quick. He was digging to the body and then going up high. He was giving Caio a lot of problems from a lot of different angles early on in the fight," Whittaker continued. "He just put that pressure, controlled the center octagon and just kind of stalked him the whole fight."

"I had him winning, honestly, every round," added the former champion.

As impressive of a win as it was for Imavov, Whittaker wasn't sold on the performance guaranteeing a title shot. 

"I don't think that fight cemented that (title) fight for him. I think it definitely put him in the running, but that's what it is. It's a running now," said Whittaker. "RDR (Reinier De Ridder) and 'Fluffy' (Anthony Hernandez) are going to punch on, and if they do something exceptional, they will jump the queue, I think."

De Ridder is ranked No. 4 in the division and Hernandez is ranked No. 6. The two square off in the UFC Fight Night 262 main event on Oct. 18 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The event will mark the seventh time Vancouver has played host to a UFC fight card.