One can be certain that the very heartbeat of France will be buzzing when the Middleweight bout lights up the Octagon at UFC Paris. On Saturday, September 6th, 2025, the top-tier event will be hosted at the Accor Arena, where the massive French-Chechen prototype, Nassourdine "The Sniper" Imavov, clashes with the unbeaten Brazilian sensation Caio "The Natural" Borralho, for what possibly could be a turning-point bout. This much-awaited bout, a career-defining moment for each of the warriors, could well determine the next title challenger in the densely populated middleweight division.

Imavov, fighting in front of the crowd from his hometown, will look to extend his incredible winning streak and cement himself as a division's top. Borralho, on the other hand, is looking to maintain his spotless professional career and prove he's ready for the division's top talent. This is going to be a class in strategy and a gruesome encounter, with both men offering different, albeit highly effective, sets of abilities in the cage.

• Date: Saturday, 6th September 2025

• Kick-off Time: 9.00 PM (UTC)

• Venue: Accor Arena, Paris, France

• Competition: UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho

Nassourdine Imavov (16-4-0, 1 NC) is an up-and-coming middleweight fighter who has gradually worked his way up the rankings to now solidly sit in the top 5 of the division. Because of his Sambo training, "The Sniper" not only embodies his moniker with his accurate and devastating punching, but his skill set also includes a formidable grappling defense. Imavov has been on a four-fight win streak, one that peaked with his most impressive win to date: February 2025 second-round TKO of no less than former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Not only did the win put him in title contention immediately, but it also charged up the French fan base and set the stage for this massive homecoming headliner. His finishing ability and pressure-oriented fighting style make him a crowd favorite year after year.

Caio Borralho (17-1-0, 1 NC) is possibly the most exciting and unbeaten prospect in the UFC middleweight class. From Brazil, "The Natural" boasts a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC cage, taking his overall professional unbeaten record to 17 bouts. Borralho's fighting style is a masterclass in effectiveness, slotting into place wherever the fight may go. His unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier, a former title challenger and not one short of guts, showed Borralho's ability to last a full five rounds, dictate the pace, and emerge victorious from a level above. His mix of piercing striking, heavy grappling, and expert cage control has made him extremely difficult to beat, and he's knocking on the door to a title bout.

Nassourdine Imavov is most known for his world-class striking, which includes crisp boxing, killer kicks, and solid fight IQ in stand-up combat. He arrives with an impressive 4.45 significant strikes landed per minute (SLpM) and a good 55% accuracy, demonstrating that he has the accuracy to continue landing on the target. His background in Sambo also provides him with strong defensive grappling, which is evident through his 78% takedown defense. This allows him to keep the fight where he is best – in the standup – but provides him with a crucial tool to escape tough situations against grapplers such as Borralho. He is great at turning off the cage and suffocating his competition.

Caio Borralho's nickname, "The Natural," is a great identity of how naturally he switches back and forth from striking to grappling. As much as he has a great striking game with 60% accuracy and defends only 2.34 strikes per minute, his power tends to come from his ability to control the fight on the mat. His 60% takedown success rate is incredible, and when he does take opponents down, his ground and pound and control are vicious. His 76% takedown defense isn't half bad either, showing that he can both start grappling and defend against grappling. Borralho excels at making openings, be it a perfectly timed takedown or a counter strike and systematically take apart opponents.

The "Tale of the Tape" does show a few differences. Imavov is a bit taller and more aggressive with his striking, whereas Borralho is more efficient, landing a greater percentage of strikes and absorbing fewer. Borralho also has considerably higher takedown accuracy and average, showing his penchant for keeping the fight on the ground.

According to Stake.com, the betting odds for the MMA UFC match between Imavov and Borralho are 2.08 and 1.76, respectively.

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This is an unbelievably challenging bout to predict, bringing two rising stars together in opposite, but equally risky, styles. Nassourdine Imavov, on the back of his stunning upset of Adesanya and his ear-shattering home advantage backing, will be looking for a striking masterclass. His ability to punch hard and accurately and to thwart takedowns well make him a threat to anyone.

However, Caio Borralho's impeccable record and highly well-rounded skillset must not be overlooked. His nipping ability, aggression, and grappling may be the key. Borralho has shown that he is able to control the distance, catch tight takedowns, and wear down decisions off superior opposition. While Imavov's stand-up is top-class, Borralho's ability to keep it varied and continually put his opposition in poor positions will be the dealmaker. This will be a closely contested fight, likely to go the distance.

• Final Prediction: Caio Borralho by Unanimous Decision.

Either victory would completely alter the middleweight title picture. For Nassourdine Imavov, a victory over an undefeated man in his home nation would seal his argument for a title fight and make him an unchallenged force. For Caio Borralho, retaining his unbeaten record against a top 5 opponent would directly position him at the top and as a new, interesting contender to the title. Expect a technical, hard-fought fight that will have enormous implications for the future of the UFC middleweight division.