Robert Whittaker explained why he gives Nassourdine Imavov the advantage over Caio Borralho.
Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) meets Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a potential middleweight title eliminator in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 258 (ESPN+) headliner at Accor Arena in Paris.
Whittaker, the former middleweight champion, doesn’t see the fight hitting the ground.
“Very curious because both guys are kind of like on the up and up,” Whittaker told Submission Radio. “Both guys are working it out. I think the wrestling and grappling kind of nullify each other, so I think it’s going to be a standup fight for five rounds.
“I do think it’s going to go to a decision. Both guys are pretty tough and switched on. But, I think Imavov will be the more technical guy over five rounds, like straight forward. So, I have Imavov probably with the decision win.”
Borralho weighed in as the official backup for the middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev last month at UFC 319, but his services weren’t needed. Whittaker isn’t sure if cutting weight twice in less than a month was the wisest idea for Borralho.
“I feel like having that a month out from your fight isn’t the best,” Whittaker said. “Then usually after a fight or after a heavy cut, I get sick because your immune system and your nervous system plummets. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s the best thing to do.”
