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- Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya reacts during his fight with Sean Strickland (not pictured) in UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-Imagn Images

Israel Adesanya Throws Shade: Former Champ Picks Against His Own KO Artist in Spicy UFC Paris Prediction

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 9:52 AM ET

Let’s be real here – there’s nothing quite like watching a fighter back the guy who didn’t just beat him, but absolutely starched him. Yet here we are with Israel Adesanya doing exactly that, and honestly? It’s kind of fascinating to watch.

When Your Former Opponent Becomes Your Crystal Ball

The UFC middleweight division is messier than a college dorm room right now, with fighters scrambling like hungry wolves for that next title shot. This weekend at UFC Paris, we’re getting what could be the most important middleweight scrap in months when Nassourdine Imavov squares off against Caio Borralho inside the Accor Arena.

Now, you’d think Adesanya might have some lingering beef with Imavov – you know, considering the Frenchman handed him his third straight loss via a devastating TKO that had fans wondering if “The Last Stylebender” had finally bent too far. But nope, Izzy’s out here playing fight analyst like nothing happened.

“I’ll pick Caio for this fight,” Adesanya declared with the confidence of someone who definitely wasn’t on the wrong end of Imavov’s fists just months ago. “It’s a well-matched fight, but I think it’ll be edged out by Caio.”

Adesanya’s Brutal Honesty About Home Field Advantage

Here’s where it gets interesting – and slightly savage. While acknowledging that Imavov will have the entire French crowd behind him, Adesanya basically shrugged it off like it’s irrelevant. “They’re fighting in France as well. Ooh. Home court advantage. I don’t know how that’s going to play with Nassourdine, but I don’t think it’s going to be an impact on him negatively or positively.”

That’s some ice-cold analysis right there. Essentially telling the world that even with thousands of French fans screaming for their hometown hero, it won’t matter because Borralho is just better. Ouch.

The Technical Breakdown Nobody Asked For (But We Got Anyway)

Adesanya went full MMA nerd in his prediction, explaining exactly how he sees this fight unfolding. According to the former champ, Imavov will be the one desperately looking for takedowns because he can’t hang with Borralho on the feet.

“Imavov probably [initiates the grappling first] because he’ll have to mix it up to keep Caio guessing,” Adesanya explained. “The feet would be too much for him, the hands would be too much for him from Caio.”

That’s basically saying Imavov’s striking – the same striking that knocked Adesanya into next week – isn’t good enough against Borralho. The audacity is almost impressive.

Why This Fight Actually Matters More Than Your Average Co-Main

Both these guys have legitimate claims to being title contenders, which makes this matchup feel like an unofficial eliminator. Imavov has been building his reputation one big name at a time, taking out legends like Adesanya, plus Joaquin Buckley, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and Roman Dolidze. That’s a murderer’s row of middleweight talent.

Meanwhile, Borralho represents the new generation of fighters who’ve managed to climb the rankings without a single loss. He’s part of the “Fighting Nerds” team (yes, that’s actually their name), and has kept his perfect UFC record intact by beating Paul Craig and Abus Magomedov.

Borralho’s Already Looking Past His Current Problem

In typical fighter fashion, Borralho is already eyeballing bigger fish. The Brazilian has been making noise about potentially facing new middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, claiming he has the perfect game plan to dethrone the seemingly unstoppable Chechen.

“I can threaten him with my ground game, especially on the bottom,” Borralho told CBS Sports with the kind of confidence that either makes him a future champion or a future highlight reel victim. “When it comes to striking, my distance control and feints will make him shoot at the wrong time.”

That’s some serious confidence from a guy who hasn’t even beaten Imavov yet. But hey, that’s the fight game – you’ve got to believe you can beat anyone, even when you’re still dealing with the guy directly in front of you.

The Bigger Picture: Title Shot Implications

UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that the winner of this fight, along with whoever emerges victorious from the Anthony Hernandez vs. Reinier De Ridder bout at UFC Vancouver, could potentially face Chimaev in his first title defense. That’s some serious stakes for what’s technically a co-main event.

Adesanya’s prediction carries extra weight because he’s been in there with both the current champion (Chimaev) and one of the title contenders (Imavov). His insight, even if it stings a little for Imavov fans, comes from someone who’s felt the power of both fighters firsthand.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Picking Against Your Conqueror

There’s something almost therapeutic about Adesanya’s prediction. It’s like he’s processing his own loss by analyzing exactly why Imavov might struggle against a different style of fighter. Or maybe he’s just being honest about what he sees – that Borralho presents a different kind of problem than he himself did.

Either way, it takes a special kind of fighter to publicly back against the guy who just knocked you out. Whether that makes Adesanya brutally honest or slightly delusional remains to be seen.

When the dust settles at UFC Paris, we’ll find out if the former champion’s crystal ball is working or if he’s about to eat some serious crow. One thing’s for sure – this fight just got a lot more interesting with Izzy’s bold prediction hanging over it.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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