Israel Adesanya predicts the UFC Paris main event between Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho.
It’s been a pretty busy summer for the UFC middleweight division. The last couple of months have seen a new champion crowned in Khamzat Chimaev and contenders emerging from the shadows like Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez.
This weekend’s headliners Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho will fight five rounds or less for a potential shot at the title.
It’s back-to-back main events for Imavov after the Frenchman handed former two-time champion Israel Adesanya a second-round TKO loss at UFC Riyadh. Borralho returns after a near-finish of former title challenger Jared Cannonier from August of last year.
So, who does Adesanya favor at UFC Paris?
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Israel Adesanya backs Caio Borralho to beat Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris
Borralho has never lost in the UFC, and former champ Adesanya thinks he’s going to keep it that way.
‘The Natural’ has dropped his last three opponents and has only been outstruck once from Dana White’s Contender Series to his first main event.
Borralho is one of the core four ‘Fighting Nerds’, along with uber-talented teammates Jean Silva, Carlos Prates and Mauricio Ruffy.
“I’ll pick Caio for this fight,” Adesanya predicted on his YouTube channel.
“It’s a well-matched fight, but I think it’ll be edged out by Caio,” Adesanya said.
“They’re fighting in France as well. Ooh. Home court advantage. I don’t know how that’s going to play with Nassourdine, but I don’t think it’s going to be an impact on him negatively or positively.
“I’m gonna go Caio in this fight, and I’m gonna go decision. I’m gonna go decision by Caio.”
“Imavov probably [initiates the grappling first] because he’ll have to mix it up to keep Caio guessing.
“I’m still gonna go Caio, and I think it’s gonna be a unanimous decision. It’ll be a good fight,” Adesanya said of Imavov vs. Borralho.
Who has Nassourdine Imavov lost to in UFC?
Nassourdine Imavov (16-4) is currently on a four-fight win streak in the middleweight division.
Imavov was the #1 contender for much of this year before he got bumped down by the now former champ Dricus du Plessis after his defeat to Khamzat Chimaev.
The Frenchman’s most recent loss came to former champ Sean Strickland in his first main event back in 2023.
The only other fighter Imavov has lost to in the UFC is Phil Hawes.
Hawes defeated Imavov via majority decision. This loss has not aged well for Imavov as Hawes lost four UFC fights by knockouts after this, which led to his release from the promotion. Hawes’ losing skid rose to six in Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing promotion last weekend.