Champ Khamzat Chimaev Gives Immediate Reaction to 185-Pounder Nassourdine Imavov’s UFC Paris Win

This Saturday, Nassourdine Imavov continued his winning ways in what was essentially 1/2 of a title eliminator and made his pitch to be the next UFC 185-pound title challenger. Imavov now has the attention of the newly crowned king, Khamzat Chimaev, who gave his instant reaction to UFC Paris.

No.1-ranked middleweight Nassourdine Imavov ended the de facto leader of Team Fighting Nerd, Caio Borralho’s, long 16-fight winning streak, making it 2-0 for France over Brazil at the UFC Fight Night 258 top bill in Paris.

‘The Sniper’ and Borralho went to a 25-minute stretch of dogfight, with Borralho showcasing why he belonged there. But the Frenchman had more impact and meaningful significant damage; he even pivoted and thwarted 5/5 TD attempts by the fence. The 29-year-old defeated Caio Borralho in his tracks and sent him packing as a prospect, via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), and called for a title shot.

Khamzat Chimaev, who kept notice, took to socials immediately after, when Imavov made the pitch in his post-fight mic time.

Good fight!
Assalamu Alaykum 🫡😁

Khamzat Chimaev via X (@KChimaev)

Imavov professed that he was pursuing the finish and had the snappy speed for it, but sensed that he had injured a tendon in his right foot. It consequently impeded his movement. Per STAT LEADERS | UFC Record Books, both punctuated 89 total strikes in damage, but Imavov toppled the rivals 69 Sig. str. with his 81. However, Caio Borralho answered with more slicers to his lead leg, to stop his dashes, and he took the grunt of it.

While it did go to a decision, Imavov did not show signs of gassing out beyond the usual 5-round wear and fatigue. Chimaev himself is known for quite the first-round explosion, and it remains to be seen if Imavov could hold his own there. Some fan forums have billed it’d be an easy first defense for ‘Borz’.

Good fight!
Assalamu Alaykum 🫡😁

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) September 6, 2025

But the Chechen himself has also tired in the championship rounds. At UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev PPV main event, Chimaev did show that he has made improvements and can hang around in a 5-round affair. Meanwhile, Imavov also has crisp standups and extended cardio that can match prime boxers. So…currently, there’s question marks as to how this one will go if Imavov vs. Chimaev does end up happening.

One color commentator, though, had the most unorthodox idea for Chimaev’s first title defense of the UFC middleweight gold.

Joe Rogan snubs Nassourdine Imavov off middleweight title shot, proposes former champ

Both 185lb contenders were riding on big streaks and made their case for a top spot. Nassourdine Imavov has now more than cemented his #1 contender status after the win over Borralho and even has champion Khamzat Chimaev’s attention. He’s now on a 5-fight streak, including standouts like Joaquin Buckley, Edmen Shahbazyan, Ian Heinisch, and former champ Israel Adesanya.

With the stakes being high at UFC Paris, UFC CEO and bossman Dana White declared ahead of the event that the winner could secure a top crack. However, another part of the equation is the Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez headliner next month, and either could jump ahead of Imavov with a highlight.

It is well known that not every fighter in the roster always gets their dues, and what if the winner of both such part-title-eliminators bicker it away, and Borz likes neither? What other big name is there at middleweight for Khamzat Chimaev to face next for his first title defense? Color commentator Joe Rogan pitched Sean Strickland for it.

Interesting, uhm… who is the big star behind these guys, behind Imavov… Who’s the big star other than him that can leap over…Yeah [Strickland] Strickland is the biggest star for sure. I wonder if he can get right back in there like that. Does he go right back into a title shot or does he have to fight somebody? He had staph infection [at UFC 312]…

Joe Rogan on his ‘JRE Fight Companion’ Live- September 6, 2025 — PowerfulJRE (@joerogan on YT)

Strickland really did have the push from the bossman and even merited a PPV title rematch after a decision over Paulo Costa, saying he felt robbed by Canadian leftists scoring it the first time. Come the UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 PPV headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, ‘Tarzan’ would lose more decisively this time.

Per NSAC chairman Dallas Haun, Strickland is serving what could be a shortened 4.5-month suspension for his in-cage brawl at Tuff-N-Uff 145 on June 29. Other than an NSAC-sanctioned suspension, the fighter is 2-2 in his last few and hasn’t fought since. So it is highly unlike he’d fight the champ over Nassourdine Imavov or others.

ALSO READ: Top 5 French MMA Fighters Other Than UFC Paris Star Nassourdine Imavov