Nassourdine Imavov outclasses Caio Borralho in UFC Paris main event

The UFC octagon was in Paris, France for Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho event at Accor Arena. Headlining the fight card was a middleweight clash between No. 2 ranked Nassourdine Imavov and No. 7 ranked Caio Borralho. 

Imavov entered the fight riding a four-fight winning streak and coming off a TKO win over former two-time champion Israel Adesanya. Borralho made the walk to the octagon having not lost in a decade. 

They touched gloves and Imavov inched forward. Both men were respectful of the other's ability early. Imavov closed the distance with a right hand. They exchanged leg kicks. Imavov walked Borralho down. Borralho looked for a takedown but Imavov defended the attempt. Imavov cut off the cage and partially landed a combination. Borralho delivered a kick to the body and clinched. They worked along the cage with Borralho delivering knees to the legs of Imavov. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Imavov. 

Borralho went to the body with a kick to start the second frame. Imavov looked to counter. Borralho struggled to find the range. Imavov connected with a counter combination. Borralho answered with a right hand. Midway through the frame, Imavov went to the body with a hard right hand. Imavov's hand speed was on full display. 

Imavov connected with a spinning back fist but Borralho absorbed it. Borralho looked for a takedown but Imavov easily shook it off. Imavov stepped in the pocket with a big left hand. He landed a right. There was a lull in the action in the final seconds. Borralho turned and walked to his corner with two seconds still left in the round. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Imavov. 

Imavov connected with a hard counter right hand early in the third frame. He landed another right hand. Borralho fired back and got hit with an uppercut on the inside. Borralho delivered a knee that went low and Imavov was given time to recover. A minute later, the fight was restarted. 

Borralho picked up his output with leg kicks. Imavov landed a counter right hand. Borralho answered with a clean left. Imavov connected with a counter right hand. As Borralho steps in the pocket, Imavov would unload a combination. Borralho delivered a combination but caught an accident poke to the eye. Moments later the action restarted. 

Imvov landed a hard right hook. Borralho looked for a takedown but Imavov defended the attempt. Imavov inched forward with a combination. Borralho responded with a right hand. It was Borralho's best round, but MMAWeekly scored it 10-9 for Imavov. 

Imavov pressured Borralho in the early going of the fourth frame. A short elbow landed on the inside for Imavov. They exchanged right hands. Imavov delivered a combination and continued to pressure Borralho. Imavov clinched and Borralho nearly tripped him to the ground. Imavov began landing more often. Borralho found a home for his right hand followed by a jab. They clinched and separated in the closing seconds. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Imavov. 

Borralho's corner told him that he needed a finish to win heading into the final round. 

Imavov started the round by pressuring Borralho. A right hand forced Imavov to back up. He went back to pressuring and landed a right hand. They exchanged combinations. A short elbow by Imavov landed on the inside. Imavov doubled up on his jab. Borralho caught an accidental poke in the eye. The referee gave a 'hard warning' Imavov before restarting the fight.

Imavov went back to pressuring. They briefly clinched before separating. Imavov connected with a combination. They clinched and separated in the closing seconds. Imavov landed a clean right hand. MMAWeekly score the round 10-9 for Imavov. 

The judges scored the fight Imavov by unanimous decision. The scorecards read (=50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.