Top ten middleweights Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho closed out UFC Paris at the Accor Arena on Saturday, in a fight that already certain carried title implications with it.
Imavov, to some, had already done enough to warrant a title shot. Borralho, ranked slightly back on the French 185’er, was looking to jump into his spot, all with Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez winning. Almost certainly, the winner of either Imavov vs. Borralho or de Ridder vs. Hernandez was set to be next in line.
Borralho opened with a high kick as the action got underway, working from the outside. Imavov methodically moved forward, blocking another high kick, and firing his right hand. Imavov fired a kick to the thigh, but neither fighter committed on anything big through the opening 90 seconds. Imavov, of course, had to be wary of the takedown.
When Borralho did change levels, Imavov caught him in a headlock; they’d eventually separate, and go back to something of a chess match.
Not a ton if significant strikes from either man in round one. Round two saw Borralho continue to mix up his kicking attacks, before closing the distance with some looping hooks. Imavov remained light on his feet, holding center and fending off the Brazilian’s attacks. Again, when Borralho changed levels looking for a takedown, it wasn’t the most explosive, with Imavov stuffing the attempt. Quite easily at that. The striking opened up after that, Borralho soon showing some damage around the face.
Early in the third, Imavov clipped Borralho coming in, leaving him reeling. The pair clinched up briefly, but stayed standing, no doubt to the advantage of Nassourdine Imavov. Borralho then signaled that he’d been hit low, leading to the ref, Marc Goddard, halting the action. That gave Caio a chance to recover, and once the action resumed, it was Borralho connecting with a left hand. Imavov stumbled a step, but didn’t go down. And moments later, an eye poke landed by Imavov halted the action again.
Following a warning, the pair clinched up; after breaking, Imavov landed at least two or three punches in a combination. There was an argument the fight was 30-27 heading into round four; at best, Borralho might have stolen the third, unlikely as it might seem.
Borralho came out a little more active in round four, mixing up his strikes. Imavov, however, was right there with an answer, his right hand crisp. Just over a minute in, Borralho was grazed by a low blow but chose to fight on without any recovery time. A takedown attempt came closer for Borralho later in the round, but he just couldn’t complete it. Worse, the Brazilian was clearly tiring, while Imavov still looked fresh. Imavov’s punches were crisper, his speed a step quicker.
Round fifth had Caio Borralho in need of a finish in a fight he had been trailing in almost from the outset. But Imavov hadn’t slowed. A couple of minutes in, Borralho managed to land solid, backing Imavov up. Imavov returned fire, and connected with a low kick. His right hand hit the mark again. Borralho was in need of a knockout blow, or a submission. Instead, another eye poke landed on Borralho, halting the action. A hard warning followed but no point deduction. That was no help to Borralho, given how far behind he was trailing. They’d fight to the horn, but no takedown would come, no finish was to be had for the Brazilian. Imavov came on strong at the end, en route to a lopsided victory.
Official Result: Nassourdine Imavov def. Caio Borralo by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
