Latest news with #NassourdineImavov
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nassourdine Imavov predicts Khamzat Chimaev finishes Dricus Du Plessis in first two rounds
Nassourdine Imavov sees Khamzat Chimaev's early onslaught getting to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title against undefeated Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event from United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Most observers have broken down the title fight in the same way: an early Chimaev finish or Du Plessis outlasting him. The experts have leaned toward the latter but not Imavov. "In my mind, Khamzat will finish the fight in the first two rounds," Imavov told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. "That's what I have in my mind, but of course I understand people thinking that the longer it goes, the more it can go in favor of DDP because of his cardio, but also his way of fighting that is very weird, very strange." Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on Caio Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 258 main event on Sept. 6 from Accor Arena in Paris. Imavov thinks there's no doubt he should be next in line for a title shot if he notches his fifth win in a row and was even disrespected to be asked such a question. "You know what I've done. I've beat four top-10 in less than a year," Imavov said. "The fifth is coming. What's going on after? Do you imagine after I beat Caio, the fifth top-10 ranked fighter in 18 months, anyone deserves it more than me?" This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319: Top middleweight makes bold Du Plessis vs. Chimaev prediction
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nassourdine Imavov explains declining UFC 319 backup: Caio Borralho 'taking my leftovers'
Nassourdine Imavov confirms he declined the UFC 319 title fight backup slot, but says it was for quality reasons. With his UFC Fight Night 258 main event on the horizon, Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) doesn't see much reward in traveling across the world, battling jet lag and cutting weight, only to likely not even fight in the end. He initially agreed to fill the role when it seemed the impending title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev would happen in late Spring or early Summer. But after the timeline pushed, Imavov declined. Even the Sept. 2 showdown vs. Caio Borralho in Paris, he views as a bit of a placeholder, though a necessary one. "I was like, 'OK, if the title fight is in August and I have to be the backup, then I don't want to train for nothing. I don't want to train for nothing,'" Imavov told MMA Junkie on Tuesday through a French-language interpreter. "... So I was like, 'Maybe it's better to focus on Caio Borralho.' The UFC asked us a few weeks ago for me to come in the U.S. for the weigh-ins and everything. I said no because I have a fight that's scheduled three weeks later. So I don't have time to travel and have jet lag. I want to be in the best condition for my fight. That's why I said, 'No, I won't come. Maybe they'll put Caio at this place.' But right now, I'm only focusing on Caio in Paris. Bring him." Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) instead will weigh in Aug. 15 in Chicago. He proudly revealed the backup fighter designation himself on social media. To Imavov, the designation is no accolade, however. "For me, it's his problem," Imavov said. "He agreed to that because he was honored to be the backup, but he's just taking my leftovers because I declined. Otherwise, if I hadn't declined, the UFC wouldn't call him to be the backup. He has to understand this. In my mind, I hope he won't use it as excuses or dodge the fight. I will be ready Sept. 6 and he has to be ready. Because he has spoken a lot. No excuses. "Even for me, being the backup for a title shot it's not an honor for me. Because when I want to fight for the title, I want to have my face on the poster. Because what's he going to do? He's going to make weight and be in another (city) there in Chicago. No one will speak about him. He doesn't have any road at the end of the day and everyone will forget after the fight happens because Khamzat and DDP and everyone will forget Caio was the backup. It's something that doesn't have any sense. No one is speaking about the backup fighter." Title eliminator – no question, affirms Imavov Imavov says without question, if he gets through Borralho, he'll be the next UFC middleweight title challenger. He says the UFC has told him as much. A win would make it five victories in a row over top-10 opponents since February 2024. Other victories in the stretch include Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and Israel Adesanya. "It's very simple: I'm a complete fighter," Imavov said. "I consider myself as a complete fighter. So if it has to go to the ground, it'll go to the ground. I will welcome him to the ground. If it stays standing, it will be (better) and I will just demolish him. The thing is that I don't speak too much but when I fight, I want to bring a real show to my fans." "... He just wants to win the fight in this way, having a weird fight, a not interesting fight. That's not how I'm used to doing. For me, I'll make this fight in spectacular fashion. It's important for me to show people that I can make a boring fighter, a great fight." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Nassourdine Imavov declined UFC 319 backup: Caio Borralho took my leftovers
USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC Fight Night 258
Nassourdine Imavov, who has spent the majority of his adult life in France, will get the chance to headline in front of a passionate Paris crowd when he looked to end the more than 10-year undefeated streak of Caio Borralho in the UFC Fight Night 258 middleweight headliner. Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho preview Imavov, 30, is coming off his biggest win to date, a knockout of former champion Israel Adesanya in February. He has suffered just one defeat in his past nine fights dating back to February 2021, and is No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings. Borralho, 32, hasn't competed since a Fight of the Night main event win over Jared Cannonier in August 2024. The Brazilian is unbeaten in his past 17 fights since July 2015, and is currently ranked No. 8. Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho odds According to Bovada, Imavov is a slight -150 favorite to hold serve as the higher-ranked fight against Borralho, who is a +130 underdog. How to watch Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho at UFC Fight Night 258 Where: Accor Arena, Paris, France Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC announces Qatar will host Fight Night event this November
The UFC is breaking new ground in the Middle East. Promotion officials announced Wednesday that the UFC is heading to Doha, Qatar for a Fight Night event on Nov. 22. No bouts were included in the announcement. Qatar will mark the third country in the Middle East that the UFC visits. Abu Dhabi has played host to some of the biggest events in company history, including the historic "Fight Island" cards during COVID-19. Two UFC Fight Night events have been held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – most recently this past February when Nassourdine Imavov knocked out Israel Adesanya in the UFC Fight Night 250 main event. The UFC's next stop in the Middle East comes later this month when Robert Whittaker meets Reinier de Ridder in the UFC on ABC 9 headliner July 26 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scotland's Craig to fight Bukauskas at UFC Paris
Scotland's Paul Craig is set to face Modestas Bukauskas on 6 September at UFC light-heavyweight bout will be on the undercard of French fighter Nassourdine Imavov's middleweight showdown with Caio will continue in the UFC after signing a new contract with the mixed martial arts (MMA) 37-year-old made his promotional debut in 2016 but has won just one of his past seven last bout in June was declared a no-contest because he illegally up-kicked Rodolfo Bellato in the first after that fight was originally postponed and then prematurely cut short, Craig will be given another opportunity to get back in the win fighter Bukauskas is on a three-fight winning streak and is based in 31-year-old has 18 wins in 24 fights and just one loss since 2022 - a knockout defeat by Vitor Petrino in is staying at light-heavyweight after a stint at middleweight and has 17 wins in 28 Airdrie fighter has some eye-catching wins on his record, including to current light-heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev in Shauna Bannon and English flyweight Kennedy Freeman are also in action in Paris. UFC Paris main card Nassourdine Imavov v Caio Borralho - middleweightPaul Craig (Scotland) v Modestas Bukauskas - light-heavyweightAndreas Gustafsson v Rinat Fakhretdinov - welterweightMarcin Tybura v Ante Delija - heavyweightBolaji Oki v Mason Jones (Wales) - lightweightKennedy Freeman (England) v Yuneisy Duben - flyweightShauna Bannon (Ireland) v Sam Hughes - strawweight
