UFC middleweight Caio Borralho, a member of Team Fighting Nerds, has stated his belief that Sean Strickland presents a more formidable challenge to reigning champion Khamzat Chimaev than top contender Nassourdine Imavov. This assessment comes despite Imavov’s impressive five-fight win streak, which includes a victory over Borralho in 2025.
In a recent interview, Borralho commended Strickland’s recent performance at UFC Houston, where the former UFC champion secured a third-round TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez, thereby re-establishing his position as a strong contender for a title opportunity.
Caio Borralho’s Analysis: Strickland vs. Imavov Against Chimaev
During the same discussion, when pressed to choose between Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland as the fighter with a greater likelihood of unseating Khamzat Chimaev, Borralho unequivocally selected the American.
Despite Nassourdine “The Sniper” Imavov having previously halted Borralho’s undefeated streak in the UFC, Borralho expressed greater confidence in his former training partner, Sean “Tarzan” Strickland, to face the Chechen-born Emirati champion. Borralho elaborated on his reasoning:
“I believe Imavov is a superior striker, perhaps faster, and I’ve experienced that firsthand. I’ve fought one and trained with the other; they have distinct styles. However, my concern is that Imavov might struggle significantly with Khamzat’s wrestling. That’s where I see Strickland having an advantage. While I’m unsure if Strickland could out-wrestle Khamzat, I think he could defend takedowns more effectively, potentially tiring Khamzat out. We all recognize Khamzat’s wrestling is on another level, but to answer your question about who would perform better, I lean towards Strickland.”
Borralho further posited that Strickland’s attributes, including his precise jab, relentless forward movement, unique striking approach, and his demonstrated capacity to control fight tempo and defend against takedowns, collectively position him as a formidable adversary for the UFC middleweight champion.
In other news, Borralho himself recently returned to the winner’s circle at UFC 326, securing a unanimous decision victory over Reinier de Ridder. Following his impressive win, “The Natural” wasted no time in calling out former champion Dricus du Plessis during his post-fight octagon interview, stating:
“But I have one name in my mind, Joe. Dricus du Plessis, where are you, boy?”
