Nassourdine Imavov is scheduled to fight Caio Borralho atop the UFC Paris MMA event next month in France.
“The UFC asked us a few weeks ago for me to come in the U.S. for the weigh ins and everything,” Imavov told MMA Junkie. “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.”
Imavov’s decision to pass on UFC 319 was probably for the best, since du Plessis already warned promoters he would not be fighting “The Sniper” if something happened to Chimaev.
“Even for me, being the backup for a title shot it’s not an honor for me,” Imavov continued. “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.”
If everything goes according to plan, the winner of Imavov vs. Borralho will move on to fight the winner of du Plessis vs. Chimaev in early 2026. But if something unexpected happens like an untimely injury, then No. 5-ranked Reinier de Ridder would be more than happy to swoop in and take over.
Big changes coming to the 185-pound division over the next few weeks.
