UFC 319 reserve Caio Borralho provokes French rival and suggests fear of Chimaev: 'He got beaten in training'

Caio Borralho is a highlight of the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/UFC Brasil

The temperature between Caio Borralho e Nassourdine Imavov continues to rise even outside the octagon. This time, the spark came from UFC 319. After being provoked by the Frenchman for accepting the role of reserve in the main fight of the event, the Brazilian responded with irony and attacked a sensitive point: the backstage of a training session with Khamzat Shimaev.

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Borralho not only defended the decision to be ready for a possible confrontation with Chimaev or Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight belt (up to 83,9 kg), as well as suggesting that Imavov had turned down that same opportunity for fear of meeting the Chechen again.

"How can anyone say a potential title fight is a thing of the past? Are you okay, bro? Delirious. Or were you just scared of maybe facing Chimaev after getting beaten up badly when you trained together? I heard it was a sweep on the ground. Like 10 submissions in 5 minutes," Caio wrote on his official 'X' (formerly Twitter) account.

How a guy says a possibly Title Shot is a leftover????

Are you ok bro? @imavov1
Delusional

Or he was just afraid to possibly fight Chimaev after he got his ass beat up when they trained together??? I heard it was a floor moping. Like 10 submissions in 5min…

— Caio Borralho (@BorralhoCaio) July 28, 2025

Borralho is a reserve at UFC 319, but the fight against Imavov is still scheduled.

The post set the internet ablaze and added fuel to the rivalry between the two, which had been brewing for months. Borralho, currently the official reserve for UFC 319, can be activated at the last minute if one of the protagonists of the main fight is removed from the card.

But if the event goes ahead as planned, the Brazilian already has a set date and destination: September 6th, in UFC Paris, where he faces Imavov himself.