Nassourdine Imavov calls out Caio Borralho, says fight is personal
ust days before his UFC Paris headliner against Caio Borralho on Sept. 6, Nassourdine Imavov speaks with MMA Junkie Radio to preview the fight.
Nassourdine Imavov feels it’s clear what’s at stake for him.
Returning in the main event of UFC Fight Night 258, Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) believes he’ll be fighting for the No. 1 contender spot at middleweight, which ultimately defines who gets the next crack at the newly crowned champion Khamzat Chimaev. Imavov takes on fellow top contender Caio Borralho in a five-round main event in Paris, France. He’s not looking past Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), but he knows a fight with the champ is on the horizon.
“Right now, I’m focusing on this fight, and I know for sure I will be the No. 1 contender for the belt, and I know we will do a fight for the ages with Khamzat, but right now I’m focusing on this fight,” Imavov told MMA Junkie Radio.
Apart from being in a key bout that could define the next title challenger, there’s a personal aspect to the fight against Borralho.
“He talked a lot, and he went a little outside the sports realm talking about nations, talking about Dagestan, talking about France,” Imavov explained. He’s a liar, first of all. I don’t very much like his (face) and his style. There are a lot of things that make it personal.”
Imavov is coming off a big TKO win over former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. “The Last Stylebender” has been public about his lean on Borralho for the winning result in this fight. These comments don’t bother Imavov one bit. In fact, he thinks it’s good for his career in the long term.
“I don’t feel anything. It doesn’t bother me,” Imavov said. “Sometimes you say stuff that you don’t really feel, it’s the real stuff. I know they’ve been getting really close, like kind of know each other. I like being the outsider. The more (people) think Caio is going to win, the better is going to be for me.”
