“It’s much more than personal.” That’s how French middleweight Nassourdine Imavov views his UFC Paris main event fight with Caio Borralho this Saturday.
Perhaps that’s due to Borralho’s approach to promoting the bout. The Fighting Nerds standout has suggested that the French fans will not support Imavov, a Dagestani-born Russian who has called France home for years. It’s an approach other fighters have taken in the past, namely Joaquin Buckley when he made the trip to Paris.
“First of all, we all know it’s a lie. He’s not surprised that the French people are behind me, because they’ve always been behind me,” Imavov (16-4, 1NC) stated during Wednesday’s UFC Paris media day. “He will see it at the weigh-in, he will see it at the fight. So there is no surprise here, just a lie as usual.”
“And second of all, I represent France at the highest level, but my blood is Dagestani, is Russian, and that’s what I represent too.”
The tactic didn’t work for Buckley, who lost a unanimous decision when the UFC debuted in Paris in 2022. It seems unlikely, no matter who wins, that it will have more of an effect this time around.
A bigger question, however, is the title picture. Some would say Nassourdine Imavov has done enough to deserve a title shot, but names like Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez, set to face off in October, are also in the mix to face Khamzat Chimaev next.
Asked what he needs to do to secure a title shot, “I need to win,” replied Imavov. “First of all, I think I’ve already done enough to prove myself and to put myself in this position. But of course, I’m looking for a finish as usual.”
Watch the full UFC Paris media day appearance by Nassourdine Imavov above.
