Caio Borralho claims he's new UFC 319 main event backup; Nassourdine Imavov resonds
In the headliner of the Aug. 16 pay-per-view event at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), Dricus Du Plessis is set to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. Current UFC-ranked No. 1 contender, Nassourdine Imavov, was initially set to weigh in as the backup, but plans have changed, according to Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC).
"I told you, Imavov is not the guy that make the rules in this f*cking room, and I told everyone that," Borralho told Real MMA Today. "Now, I'm the backup from the fight against Dricus and Chimaev, 'cause they know I'm the guy that they can call and I can save the f*cking show.
"I can go there, being ready with will of getting this f*cking belt if this opportunity comes to me – and they know I'm the guy they can call and do this sh*t."
Imavov caught wind of Borralho's claim, and issued a reply on social media.
"Backup? 😂 @BorralhoCaio good only to take my leftovers, you'll always come after, you'll always stay behind me. It's your destiny!" Imavov wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Borralho added a quick reply, "The n1 contender? 😂😂😂😂😂😂 ok bro"
Borralho and Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) are currently set to face each other in the main event of UFC Paris on Sept. 6 at Accor Arena. In the unlikely event that backup services are needed, their matchup could be in jeopardy. Regardless of what happens, Borralho promises to be ready for either fight.
"They already tried to book me and Imavov on International Fight Week, and I said yes right away, and he said no," Borralho said. "So how they gonna trust this motherf*cker to be a f*cking backup? He's not the one; I'm the one. And I'm ready, I'm the backup. I'll be there in Chicago. I'm gonna make weight. If this f*cking fight doesn't happen, I'm going three weeks after to Paris, and I'm gonna f*cking kill this guy, and put my name on the No. 1 contender.
"... If something happens to both of the guys, it can be Chimaev, it can be Dricus. It's a big fight, so they need a backup. I'm the one. They called, I answer. I'm ready. I've been studying all these guys. Dricus, Chimaev, Imavov, all these guys. So, I know as a Fighting Nerd, all the strategy and the tactics that I need to have to win every one of them, and that's what I do. I'm a Fighting Nerd, I do my homework, and when the test comes, I always take A+."
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