“The Sniper” isn’t sweating the outcome of UFC Vancouver’s main event.
No. 2-ranked Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov scored a huge win at UFC Paris yesterday (Sat., Sept. 6, 2025), defeating Brazil’s Caio Borralho via unanimous decision from inside Accor Arena in Paris, France (watch highlights).
Public consensus held that a finish by either Imavov or Borralho in the UFC Paris main event would likely earn them the next shot at Khamzat Chimaev.
Still, Imavov remains unfazed, confident he’s earned a crack at “Borz.”
“I’m next,” Imavov told Full Send MMA after the fight. “I’m not even worried about the next fight [De Ridder vs. Hernandez]. You have to realize, no one did what I did for the last year. Five opponents, five top 10 guys, two finishes. No one did that.”
It’s a strong case. Imavov has now won five straight fights, including a career-defining knockout of former champion Israel Adesanya and Saturday’s streak-snapping victory over Borralho, who hadn’t lost in a decade. On merit alone, his resume outshines the competition.
That said, UFC matchmaking isn’t always about merit. Both De Ridder and Hernandez have more mainstream buzz, and if one of them delivers a highlight finish in Vancouver, Imavov could get leapfrogged despite his impressive résumé.
Still, the French standout has done everything asked of him and sits in pole position. Whether the UFC rewards him next or not, Imavov made it clear in Paris: he’s ready for Chimaev.
For complete UFC Paris results and play-by-play, click here.
