UFC Fight Night 258: Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho Preview & Prediction
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The main event’s winner will likely determine who fights Khamzat Chimaev next for the middleweight crown, as France’s Nassourdine Imavov takes on the hungry Caio Borralho.
Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho facts
What time are Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? Accor Arena, Paris, France
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 258
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho main card
Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho (Middleweight)
Benoit Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy (Lightweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs Paul Craig (Light Heavyweight)
Bolaji Oki vs Mason Jones (Lightweight)
Rhys McKee vs Axel Sola (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho prelims
William Gomis vs Robert Ruchala (Featherweight)
Oumar Sy vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Ante Delija (Heavyweight)
Harry Hardwick vs Kaue Fernandez (Lightweight)
Sam Patterson vs Trey Waters (Welterweight)
Brad Tavares vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)
Andreas Gustafsson vs Rinat Fakhretdinov (Welterweight)
Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes (Women’s Strawweight)
Nassourdine Imavov: “The Sniper” locked in on UFC gold
Nassourdine Imavov (16-4), nicknamed “The Sniper”, enters the biggest fight of his career ranked #2 in the middleweight division. The 29-year-old Frenchman — of Dagestani heritage — is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. His most recent victory was a spectacular second-round knockout against Israel Adesanya, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest middleweights of all time. Prior to that, he scored a dominant unanimous decision win over Brendan Allen in Paris, following a fourth-round TKO finish against Jared Cannonier in the fight before.
A highly technical striker, Imavov brings sharp hands, clean footwork, and solid fight IQ to the Octagon. While not known for Dagestani-style wrestling dominance, he does possess decent grappling when needed. However, his real threat lies in his ability to rough opponents up on the feet and control the tempo of a fight with his striking.
Caio Borralho: Brazilian dark horse looking to cement his title opportunity
Caio Borralho (17-1), known as “The Natural”, enters this bout on a remarkable 16-fight winning streak and remains undefeated in the UFC at 7-0. Ranked #7 in the division, the 32-year-old Brazilian earned a convincing unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier in August 2024, showing off his five-round gas tank and composure. Before that, he knocked out Paul Craig in the second round.
Seen as the captain of the red-hot Fighting Nerds gym in Brazil, Borralho is one of the most well-rounded athletes in the division. He has a strong wrestling base and has improved his striking with every fight. With a solid gas tank and excellent fight IQ, Borralho sets a good pace and breaks opponents down over time. Furthermore, he is very durable and has never been finished in his career.
Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho prediction
This is an evenly matched contest and one of the toughest fights on the card to call. That said, I'm leaning towards Imavov for a few key reasons. He is the cleaner, more dangerous striker and has faced — and beaten — higher-level opposition, most notably with his knockout win over Adesanya. While Borralho may hold a slight edge in the grappling department, it likely won’t be enough to impact the Frenchman.
Additionally, Borralho hasn’t fought in over a year, and having served as the backup fighter at UFC 319 just weeks ago, he’s been forced to make weight twice in a short period — a potential disadvantage. With that in mind, Imavov’s momentum, striking edge, and home advantage could be the deciding factors.
Prediction: Nassourdine Imavov to win
