Brazilian middleweight fighter Caio Borralho is determined to secure his path to the UFC middleweight championship by facing Nassourdine Imavov in the octagon.
Known as “The Fighting Nerd,” Borralho engaged in a chess match with MMA Fighting in São Paulo, during which he expressed his anticipation for Imavov to accept a fight. Borralho, who embraces his “nerd” side and has played nearly 1,500 online chess games since the pandemic, is currently on a seven-fight win streak in the UFC. His most recent victory was a main event win over Jared Cannonier.
“Imavov is the logical next step, right?” Borralho stated. “That is, if he agrees. However, I don`t think he has much choice. I believe this is the fight that makes the most sense, the fight we need. The winner should be next in line for the belt. It’s the fight that aligns perfectly for the division.”
He reiterated, “It’s the fight that makes the most sense. I doubt the UFC will give him much leeway. If he declines, that`s fine, I`ll be next in line after Caio, and I’ll wait until the end of the year for a title shot. But I anticipate he’ll take the fight. He`s on a roll, confident, and probably thinks he can defeat me, which I think will make for a great matchup.”
Imavov`s recent performances include a victory over Cannonier in June 2024, preceded by wins against Brendan Allen and Israel Adesanya, marking a 4-0-1 record since his last loss. Borralho predicts he will finish the French-Dagestani fighter within two rounds.
“I foresee it being a fight that ends within two rounds,” Borralho commented. “I will request it to be a five-round fight, as it’s fitting. Considering we are both aiming for the belt, it makes sense to have a five-round bout beforehand, wouldn’t you agree? … I believe this fight will propel me towards the championship. It will boost my confidence, knowing I defeated the No. 1 contender, a skilled, young fighter with a strong winning streak, who is currently in excellent form. That’s what excites me most about this potential matchup. And also the fact that he is the top contender. Beating him will bring me closer to my dream, the belt.”
The UFC has yet to announce the next challenger for Du Plessis’s 185-pound title, but Borralho anticipates the direction.
“I expect the Dricus vs. Chimaev fight to be next, although that matchup is a chess game in itself,” Borralho remarked. “I’ve consistently bet against Dricus and been proven wrong. I`m hesitant to bet against Dricus again, but I still lean towards Chimaev winning. If Dricus doesn’t specifically prepare for Chimaev`s grappling, he could lose in the first or mid-second round. However, if he withstands the initial pressure up to the middle of the second round, I think he gains an advantage.”
“I think they are both challenging opponents, each with unique fighting styles. Each excels in different aspects of the fight. Chimaev is exceptional in wrestling, in that style and system. And Dricus is the champion, having defeated many strong opponents; he’s very self-assured. And holding the belt adds significant weight to his position. I aim to fight whoever emerges victorious from that match. And I hope for a dominant win, eliminating the need for a rematch, ensuring I am next in line.”
