The long-awaited night of UFC Paris had a bitter outcome for Brazil. The main attraction of the event held this Saturday (6), at the Accor Arena, Caio Borralho suffered his first defeat in the Ultimate when he was defeated by unanimous decision by Nassourdine Imavov, a local idol and current number 2 in the middleweight rankings (up to 83,9 kg). The country was defeated in all three direct fights against the French.
With the result, the Frenchman consolidates himself as the next in line for a title fight against Khamzat Shimaev, while the Brazilian sees his climb to the top of the 83,9 kg division slowed down.
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With victory, Nassourdine Imavov scores his fourth consecutive victory in the UFC, now with a professional record of 17 wins, four losses and one no-contest. More than that: the victory solidifies his position as the next challenger for the middleweight belt, currently held by the feared Khamzat Shimaev.
Yes, Caio Borralho, who was undefeated in seven UFC fights and was seen as a potential contender for the top spot in the division, suffered his first loss in the organization and is expected to drop in the rankings. Even so, the Brazilian showed resilience and remains one of the most promising names in the division.
Caio Borralho loses in Paris, Brazil comes out empty against France and the dream of the belt becomes more distant
Caio Borralho lose to Nassourdine Imavov No. UFC Paris. Photo: Reproduction/UFC Europe
Pushed by a packed arena, Imavov demonstrated from the outset why he's considered one of the most technical and dangerous strikers in the division. After studying Borralho's initial movements, the Frenchman began to dictate the pace of the fight with precise combinations, good jab usage, and a dominant striking stance. The Brazilian, in turn, struggled to find his timing and exploit his strong takedown game, frequently finding himself cornered against the fence.
In the second half, the situation remained favorable for "Sniper," who continued to dominate at range and thwart the Fighting Nerds fighter's attempts to enter. Borralho attempted to respond with counterattacks and sought alternatives with low kicks, but he was met by Imavov's solid defense and flurry of strikes, who was increasingly comfortable with the support of the French crowd.
The third round brought the fight's most dramatic moment. After being hit by a precise combination, Caio felt the blow and tried to tie the fight in the clinch. In one of these actions, he accidentally landed a low kick on his opponent, who had time to recover. In the rematch, the Brazilian reacted well, landing solid strikes and undermining his opponent's stance with leg kicks, in his best moment of the fight.
The fourth round was the most evenly matched, with both fighters exchanging good moments. While Imavov maintained control of the distance, Borralho increased the pace and threatened with takedown attempts and stand-up sequences. Despite this, the Brazilian's fatigue was beginning to take its toll, and he returned to his corner with a clear mission: he needed a knockout or submission to turn the tide.
The instructions from Pablo Sucupira, Borralho's coach, were clear: "It's 3-1 to him. You have five minutes." The Maranhão native then went all out in the final round, looking for the all-or-nothing punch. He pressed, landed a strong sequence, and tried to surprise, but Imavov remained calm, responded forcefully, and held the result until the final bell.
UFC Paris results
Order date: September 6th, 2025
Open Hours: From 13pm (Brasília time)
Location: Accor Arena, Paris, France
How to watch: SUPER FIGHTS LIVE In real time, UFC Fight Pass (the entire card) online.
MAIN CARD (16pm Brasília time)
Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Nassourdine Imavov derrotou Caio Borralho by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Benoit Saint-Denis finished Maurício Ruffy with a rear naked choke at 2:56. from R2
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Modest Bukauskas derrotou Paul Craig by knockout (elbow) at 4:59 of R1
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Mason jones derrotou Bolaji Oki by knockout (elbows) at 3:18 of R2
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Axel Sola defeated rhys mckee by technical knockout (punches) at 2:02 of R3
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): William Gomis defeated Robert Ruchała by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (13pm Brasília time)
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Oumar Sy derrotou Brendson Ribeiro by technical knockout (punches) at 4:42 of R1
Heavy weight (up to 120,2 kg): Before Delija derrotou Marcin tybura by knockout (punches) at 2:03 of R1
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Kaue Fernandes defeated Harry Hardwick by TKO (low kick) at 3:20 of R1
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Sam Patterson derrotou Trey Waters by knockout (punches) at 3m01sec. in R1
Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Robert Bryczek derrotou Brad Tavares by technical knockout (punches) at 1m43sec. in R3
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Rinat Fakhretdinov derrotou Andreas Gustafsson by technical knockout (punches) at 54 seconds of R1
Straw weight (up to 52,1 kg): Sam Hughes finished Shauna Bannon with a rear naked choke at 1:58. from R2
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