Caio Borralho Ripped By UFC Paris Opponent For Pitching UFC 319 PPV Backup Spot: “My Leftovers…”

Surging middleweight Caio Borralho was roasted by UFC Paris rival Nassourdine Imavov after calling dibs on UFC 319 pay-per-view backup role.

Caio Borralho Ripped By UFC Paris Opponent For Pitching UFC 319 PPV Backup Spot: “My Leftovers…”

Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov banter over UFC 319 backup spot (Source: X)

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The UFC’s 185-pound weight class is in for a hard shuffle in the upcoming days with two pivotal matches. One of them is a title fight, and another is essentially a likely title shot eliminator at UFC Paris. Top middleweights Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov scrap for the top spot at the Accor Arena headliner in September.

There’s no telling if Team Kill Cliff FC’s Imavov will prove he is up for it. But in the lead-up, the fighter has showcased unheralded talent for dissing Borralho, and how! In a recent media sitdown with MMA Today, #6 middleweight Borralho said he’d be the championship backup for UFC 319. Imavov would like to disagree:

Backup? @BorralhoCaio good only to take my leftovers, you’ll always come after, you’ll always stay behind me. It’s your destiny!

Nassourdine Imavov via X (@imavov1)

While challenger Khamzat Chimaev has had a long list of injuries, camp sickness, and pullouts, UFC Execs are yet to assign a second-stitch role. No.1-ranked fighter Imavov was initially linked as a backup fighter and was scrambling hard to prove his worth. Now, he’s out to prove Caio Borralho is the second fiddle, i.e., the ‘secondary’ option getting his handover backup role.

Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho lineup has recently been confirmed. The middleweight guard gets tested at the UFC 319: “Du Plessis vs. Chimaev” PPV headliner, this August 16th. As of writing this, the promotion is yet to officially confirm a backup; Brazil’s Borralho or otherwise.

Borralho has a slight trend of making things up along the way to drive up the bargain. Both he and the Frenchman make good cases for a title shot next. Hence, the bickering Brazilian didn’t fold out with Nassourdine Imavov claiming it was a handover.

Caio Borralho doesn’t hold back on UFC Paris rival

Caio Borralho, the #6 185-pounder on the UFC rankings, is a 2024 standout case. 7-and-nil, he has made a steady climb to the exclusive 8-0 Contender’s Club. Having trained with him before, the Fighting Nerd standout said he relentlessly studied ‘Borz’ and has wanted to make that fight.

Caio Borralho rips into Nassourdine Imavov for his claims
Caio Borralho rips into Nassourdine Imavov for his claims (Source: X)

‘The Natural’ told as much that fighting for the title was all that was in his mind. However, one barrage he faced was a refusal from top middleweight Nassourdine Imavov. After his five-rounder vs. Jared Cannonier last August, Borralho has had no fight booking. Meanwhile, Imavov defeated former champ Israel Adesanya at UFC Fight Night 250 in his 4th-ever headlining spot.

So, the Frenchman wasn’t willing to pump the brakes for intermediate matches when he was already ranked at the top for gold. Additionally, with Borralho calling his work ethic into place for avoiding a title eliminator during IFW, he has had it. Now, he blasts at the rival at all opportunities.

However, (alleged) backup title fighter Borralho isn’t one to go home hat in hand. To that end, he won’t take any slander on this ultimate opportunity to snag undisputed gold.

In April, viral footage of Borralho being choked out by Chimaev circulated on social media, which became a talking point for a diss. Imavov and Chimaev also briefly trained together before parting ways and joining different gyms. Team Allstars Training Center’s Borz also later teamed up with Tiger Muay Thai, right before UFC 294, to couple his striking with explosive pacing.

Now, all such locker-room tidbits and who defeated whom are the frontrunners of dissing for the UFC Paris stars. For now, there is no end to this rivalry and come September, they’d have a platform to hash it out.

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