UFC Fight Night 258: Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho

Nassourdine Imavov walked into the Accor Arena with the Paris crowd behind him, and from the opening bell he made sure they had something to cheer about. His jab was the story early, snapping Borralho’s head back and setting up combinations that forced the Brazilian onto the back foot. The Frenchman’s timing was razor sharp, as he cut angles, moved in and out of range, and kept Borralho guessing with feints that opened up clean shots down the middle.

Borralho stayed disciplined despite the tough start, attempting to impose his grappling game in the second round. He pressed Imavov against the fence and searched for takedowns, but Imavov’s defense held up, using underhooks and quick pivots to escape danger. When they returned to striking distance, Imavov punished him with crisp counters, landing a right hand that drew a roar from the crowd and seemed to take some steam out of Borralho’s offense.

The third round was the most dramatic, with Imavov landing a spinning backfist that wobbled Borralho briefly. The action was paused for a moment after a low blow, but Imavov stayed composed and went back to work, targeting the body and head with surgical precision. Borralho dug deep, throwing combinations of his own and trying to change the momentum, but Imavov’s footwork and head movement kept him out of serious trouble.

In the championship rounds, Borralho pressed forward aggressively, showing the kind of toughness that has made him a fan favorite. He landed his best shots of the fight late, including a solid left hook in the fourth, but Imavov’s cardio never wavered. The Frenchman controlled the pace, circled away from danger, and mixed in knees and elbows to ensure he stayed ahead on the scorecards as the minutes ticked away.

When the final horn sounded, there was little doubt about the outcome. The judges awarded Nassourdine Imavov a unanimous decision victory with scores of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46. The win capped off a record-setting night in Paris, with the UFC tying its all-time mark for most finishes in a single event. Imavov used the post-fight interview to call for a shot at the middleweight title, declaring that he is ready to face Khamzat Chimaev and bring UFC gold back to France.