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Nassourdine Imavov KO Victim, Israel Adesanya, Makes Bold Prediction for UFC Paris

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Ameetosh Dash | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 9:46 AM ET

The UFC middleweight division is currently crowded with several top-ranked fighters actively trying hard to earn the next championship title. Among these fighters, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho are officially scheduled to fight each other this weekend at UFC Paris. The fight is set to take place inside the Accor Arena, and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya shared his prediction.

From one of the most dominant champions in the modern UFC era, Adesanya’s days of championship glory are long gone. In his last professional bout, the veteran suffered a devastating TKO loss to Imavov, losing his third consecutive UFC fight. Despite enduring that crushing defeat, Izzy still confidently backed Borralho to win the anticipated showdown at UFC Paris against his former foe.

I’ll pick Caio for this fight. It’s a well-matched fight, but I think it’ll be edged out by Caio. 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. I’m gonna go Caio in this fight, and I’m gonna go decision. I’m gonna go decision by Caio. Imavov probably [initiates the grappling first] because he’ll have to mix it up to keep Caio guessing.
Israel Adesanya via YouTube

Nassourdine Imavov has built his UFC journey step by step by winning important fights and proving he belongs with the best fighters. His main strengths are counter-striking and strong grappling pedigree, which help him control the pace of the fight. Other than Adesanya, the Frenchman has beaten Joaquin Buckley, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and Roman Dolidze to earn him a position at UFC Paris.

Israel Adesanya is picking Caio Borralho to beat Nassourdine Imavov by unanimous decision at #UFCParis this weekend

@stylebender pic.twitter.com/jbMdfeZDN1
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 1, 2025

On the other hand, Borralho has moved through the UFC ranks by winning important fights and proving he is currently a threat to the title. He is part of a team called Fighting Nerds, which helped him create a fun and unique image that fans enjoy. Borralho has proven his skills by beating Paul Craig and Abus Magomedov to maintain his undefeated status in the UFC.

Caio Borralho is already looking past Nassourdine Imavov

Ahead of UFC Paris, Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov have already traded several words online to build excitement for their fight. The Brazilian has mocked Imavov’s nationality by saying he was Russian and only uses French fans to gain extra attention. Going into the fight, Borralho is the betting favorite and he is already looking past this challenger toward bigger opportunities.

Recently, Khamzat Chimaev defeated Dricus Du Plessis to capture the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319 in a very dominant fight. Borralho, who has previously trained with Chimaev, believes he has the right skills needed to finally beat the undefeated Chechen fighter. In a recent interview, the Brazilian explained how watching Chimaev closely helped him plan a smart fighting strategy for a potential matchup.

I can threaten him with my ground game, especially on the bottom. He might take me down in our fight; I accept that. It’s more about how I can frustrate him. I can deny his steps and show my versatility. When it comes to striking, my distance control and feints will make him shoot at the wrong time.
Caio Borralho via CBS Sports

Following his win against Du Plessis, Chimaev stated he was ready to fight absolutely anyone the UFC decides next. Apart from the UFC Paris card, the upcoming Anthony Hernandez versus Reinier De Ridder at UFC Vancouver also carries major importance now.

According to UFC CEO Dana White, winners from both these fights could potentially face the ‘Borz’ in his first middleweight title defense. It will be interesting to see who among these four top middleweights gets an opportunity to fight got the title first.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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