Islam Makhachev Lauds ‘Dominant’ Nassourdine Imavov After UFC Paris Win

While he’s in active fight camp and propelling his move up to 170lbs, Islam Makhachev hasn’t overlooked his old stomping grounds or even above his punching ground. Makhachev’s move up becomes official at the first bell of the UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev PPV headliner. However, the former champ also kept an eye on the key 185-pound matchup at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 258 in Paris. He liked what he saw in Nassourdine Imavov.

While willing to make his foray to 170lbs, Islam Makhachev has long been projected to be able to fight as a competition middleweight as well, due to his buff natural hydration. Former champ Dricus Du Plessis dumbed down the idea, saying a big lightweight is still a smaller middleweight. But now there’s a change of guard and the Dagestani will step one division closer to such a move up.

Consequently, the former No.1-ranked fighter at 185 pounds (#2 in the UFC middleweight athletes’ listings after August 19th), Nassourdine Imavov, recently outclassed Caio Borralho at the UFC Paris main event and called for his title shot. Even the current divisional champ has given his attention to it and reacted. Now, Islam Makhachev also imparted some uplifting words in the aftermath.

Dominant performance @imavov1
Congrats bro

Islam Makhachev via X (@MAKHACHEVMMA)

Makhachev has been linked to current and newly minted middleweight king Khamzat Chimaev already. While he’s linked to a Perth finisher and boxer trying to rubber-stamp his first charge at two-division glory, a Chimaev vs. Makhachev what-if PPV title headliner is already on the docket. Both of them are apex wrestlers in active UFC competition, and it’d be quite a super fight if pitted against each other.

Dominant performance @imavov1
Congrats bro

— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) September 6, 2025

The Dagestani has had a 15-fight winning streak and a stellar 5 title fights at lightweight. Makhachev is getting a straight title shot given his momentum as a long-time former 155-pound champ and if he wins a second gold, it’s no surprise he’d be linked to top names at middleweight as well. As the #1 middleweight for long and probable next top contender, Imavov is one of those names he can fight straight off the bat.

Staking his claim and calling his shot, ‘The Sniper’ is now at the end of positive reinforcement from many peers. However, just as the Frenchman, top 185-pounder, is enjoying his roughshod glory, another name caught quite the flak from Makhachev.

Islam Makhachev has successful hate-binge, rips into Mauricio Ruffy after UFC Paris

The Team Fighting Nerd staple and de facto MMA gym leader, Caio Borralho, fighting against Nassourdine Imavov, wasn’t the lone attraction of the night. Back-to-back fights at the UFC Fight Night 258 top bill in Paris were Brazil vs. France themed.

Nassourdine Imavov was originally born out of Khasavyurt, Dagestan, before shifting to France, and Borralho made it sour in the lead-up, calling his devout Dagestanian ethics into question for avoiding a fight. Then, Fighting Nerds teammate Mauricio Ruffy called his shot against UFC 155-pound berserker and southpaw adjunct pro-grappler Benoit Saint-Denis for the co-main event.

The thematic Brazil vs. France battle was on and Team Fighting Nerds were out to prove that their wrestling/anti-wrestling was just as good, and Islam Makhachev was keeping watch. However, Imavov defeated the team leader via UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), and Frenchman Saint-Denis foiled Mauricio Ruffy via R2 submission (rear-naked choke) – at the 2:56 mark.

The Brazilian didn’t have to dive into the deep end of wrestling or scrambling in any form, up until now. However, Saint-Denis took his back to sink into a fenceside rear-naked hold like none other. With the connotation of Dagestani ethics already getting into the mix, and the fact that this fight was at lightweight, former champ Islam Makhachev slammed Ruffy for his performance.

Ruffy had once namedropped the champ and former #1 P4P star for a future fight at lightweight. The 2024 breakout star and DWCS Alum also started off against Makhachev’s training partner, Raimond Magomedaliev.

Win or lose, Ruffy has zero grappling

— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) September 6, 2025

Train more, speak less that’s the key to success #UFCParis

— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) September 6, 2025

11 finishes and 9KOs later in the 13-fight UFC Paris card, this highlight was quite a thing. After back-to-back slumps to lightweights Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, ‘God Of War’ rebounded with a win over Kyle Prepolec at the PPV lineup in Montreal, QC, on May 10. Hence, he was quite the underdog against Ruffy, who is a prolific striker and is known for checking range before snappy KOs, reminiscent of a young Conor McGregor.

Ruffy could have challenged top-10 names on the athletes’ listing with a win over a name like Saint-Denis. Now, with this key win and back to the fold big time, the Frenchman has asked for much the same as he climbs the contention ladder again.

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