Nassourdine Imavov wasn’t as disappointed with Khamzat Chimaev’s performance at UFC 319 as some fans were.
As he prepares to face Caio Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the main event at UFC Paris this weekend, Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) has been reflecting on Chimaev’s dominant decision victory over Dricus Du Plessis—a result that secured the UFC middleweight title for the Chechen but drew criticism from some for its perceived lack of entertainment value.
“I was expecting a victory for Khamzat, but I wasn’t expecting that kind of victory—dominating for five rounds like he did,” Imavov told MMA Fighting.
“I understand when you’re not as well-versed in MMA, you don’t know MMA that well, that can be a boring fight because you don’t necessarily understand the techniques that are happening. For me, as a practitioner, as a champion in the sport, I see the technical aspect of it, and keeping a champion like DDP on the ground for five rounds is something very technical to achieve. I was very impressed with that.”
This weekend’s main event has been billed in some circles as a No. 1 contender bout at 185 pounds. Both Imavov and Borralho enter on impressive winning streaks, but in recent weeks the names of Reinier de Ridder and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez have also entered the title conversation.
While it was widely speculated that Imavov or Borralho would be next in line to challenge for Chimaev’s belt, UFC President Dana White recently suggested that de Ridder’s and Hernandez’s recent victories over Robert Whittaker and Roman Dolidze have complicated the picture.
“No, I’m not disappointed,” Imavov said of White’s comments. “I know what I’m worth, and after this fight, I’m going to be the No. 1 contender for the belt. I know that what I’ve done in the weight class, no one else has done. If you talk about those three contenders, they didn’t do what I did.”
The UFC’s annual stop at the Accor Arena has consistently produced thrilling action, with the Parisian crowd reliably generating a white-hot atmosphere.
“It’s going to be the third time I fight in Paris,” Imavov said. “I love fighting in Paris in front of my crowd. Great energy. It’s going to be as much of a responsibility as a privilege to be fighting in front of my people.
“Without a doubt, I’m going to finish him, and throughout the fight, I’ll always be looking for the finish.”
