Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho Headlines UFC Paris as Middleweight Showdown Takes Center Stage

The UFC is making its long-awaited return to France with a marquee middleweight clash, as Nassourdine Imavov takes on Caio Borralho in the main event of UFC Paris, set for Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Accor Arena in Paris.

UFC officials confirmed the highly anticipated bout on Monday morning, setting the stage for a pivotal matchup in the 185-pound division. The two surging contenders have been circling each other for months, and now their paths finally converge in a fight that could determine the next top contender in the division.

Imavov, who was previously slated as a backup for the upcoming title bout between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev in August, ultimately opted to prioritize competition over waiting in the wings. Choosing activity over uncertainty, the French standout accepted the Paris headliner instead.

Currently riding a five-fight unbeaten streak, Imavov most recently delivered a stunning knockout win over former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in February. While Chimaev has already locked in the next title shot, Imavov intends to make a compelling case of his own with another standout performance on home soil.

On the other side of the octagon, Caio Borralho enters the bout with a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC, featuring victories over notable names like Jared Cannonier, Paul Craig, and Abus Magomedov. Representing the “Fighting Nerds” team, Borralho has persistently called for a fight with Imavov — and now, that opportunity has materialized on one of the sport’s biggest European stages.

With the main event locked in, the UFC is expected to round out the Sept. 6 card with additional bouts in the coming weeks, as Paris once again becomes the center of the MMA world.