Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho are on the hunt for Khamzat Chimaev.
The newly topped middleweight champion awaits his first challenger and it might very nicely be decided Saturday when Imavov and Borralho face off within the UFC Paris foremost occasion.
Each males have arguably already made a case for a title shot, with Imavov – No. 3 at 185 kilos within the MMA Preventing International Rankings – having misplaced simply as soon as in his previous 9 fights and Borralho going 7-0 since making his UFC debut in 2022. Alongside the way in which, Imavov and Borralho have defeated a litany of longtime contenders, and now the one factor stopping them from a title shot is one another.
By the top of the week, followers is not going to solely know who’s the No. 1 contender within the division, but in addition have a greater grasp of their probabilities of dethroning the undefeated Chimaev.
The place: Accor Area in Paris
When: Saturday, Sept. 6. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight foremost card at 3 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho
Rattling, this combat is so good.
Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho have each performed sufficient for a title shot in my estimation and this matchup is worthy of headlining a pay-per-view. Yeah, I mentioned it! Belts are props!
But it surely’s to our profit that we get to see these elite 185ers throw down for the prospect to combat Khamzat Chimaev, and it’s an extremely shut combat to name.
As you’d count on, Imavov ought to have the benefit on the ft. He’s slick along with his putting, packs a punch, and does a terrific job of controlling distance. He has a pointy killer intuition, too, and received’t overextend until he’s certain he can discover a end or ship important injury. Borralho isn’t any slouch on the ft, although, and is arguably the heavier hitter. One mistake and Borralho could possibly be the one dropping Imavov.
Borralho’s mission needs to be to take this combat to the bottom, the place his tight jiu-jitsu recreation may give Imavov suits. However Imavov hasn’t shied away from grappling in his fights and he would possibly resolve to take the initiative and put Borralho on his again, relatively than let Borralho bully him towards the fence and work for takedowns.
In the long run, I feel Borralho’s grappling makes the distinction, however should you had been to run 100 simulations of this matchup proper now you’d most likely find yourself with a close to 50-50 break up. This time, I’m selecting Borralho.
Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Take the underneath. And should you’re feeling frisky, take Mauricio Ruffy.
I don’t really feel fully snug selecting Ruffy straight-up as a result of Benoit Saint Denis might completely rush Ruffy within the opening two minutes and bludgeon him into oblivion. He has a crowd filled with bloodthirsty Parisians behind him, you suppose Saint Denis isn’t desirous to placed on a present? To not point out what he stands to achieve from beating one of many extremely vaunted Preventing Nerds. “BSD” was being talked about as a darkish horse contender within the light-weight division not too way back and beating Ruffy might put his title firmly again in that dialogue.
Ruffy is solely electrifying within the standup and Saint Denis will give him loads of alternatives to strut his stuff. Going instantly at Ruffy would possibly find yourself being the worst attainable selection given the Brazilian’s arsenal of counters and spinning methods. Nicely, worst for Saint Denis, very best selection for us watching from the protection of our couches.
I’m all in on Ruffy as a menace to problem for UFC gold some day so I’ve him stopping a rampaging Saint Denis with a sniper strike and leaving him slumped on the canvas.
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig
Paul Craig is making the proper determination by staying at gentle heavyweight, however even in one in every of MMA’s most torpid divisions, it seems like he’s a step behind as of late. Approaching 38 will try this to you.
Being sluggish and hittable is at all times dangerous, particularly so once you’re matched up with a heavy hitter like Modestas Bukauskas. Although his putting isn’t at all times the cleanest, Bukauskas finds a technique to join most of the time and he received’t have a lot hassle peppering Craig’s battle-worn chin. You by no means wish to rely any veteran out, particularly a resourceful and resilient fighter like Craig, however this seems like he’s on the finish of his UFC run.
Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones
It is a tremendous enjoyable matchup on paper, particularly if it stays on the ft for 3 rounds. If Mason Jones is sensible, although, he’ll sprinkle in a mixing of the martial arts to keep away from having his head taken off.
One have a look at Bolaji Oki and also you see a fighter with the sort of knockout energy that may snag him loads of bonus checks sooner or later. He’s not only a wild slugger both, he’s methodical in his strategy and as soon as he will get extra expertise, he’s going to be detonating chins on the common.
There’s undoubtedly a world the place Oki locks in and smokes Jones early, however till we be taught extra about his grappling, that’s a weak point Jones might and will exploit. Jones will get pleasure from buying and selling pictures with the Belgian striker till the time comes for him to take the combat to the mat and grind Oki down.
Rhys McKee. UFC winner. It’s actual.
In his second stint with the promotion, McKee lastly scored an elusive win when he earned a health care provider stoppage TKO over Daniel Frunza this previous April. McKee is just a few days shy of turning 30 regardless of having a ton of expertise, so it could possibly be that the proficient Cage Warriors product is lastly hitting his stride.
Axel Sola enters Saturday with loads of hype and an impress résumé, having defended the Ares FC light-weight title 4 straight instances earlier than getting the UFC name. He returns to welterweight for his debut, so his crew higher have a superb plan to take care of the rangy McKee.
Fortuitously for Sola, he has a well-rounded talent set and energy in each palms, which spells hassle for McKee, whose defensive shortcomings have at all times held him again from taking his recreation to the subsequent degree. It’d take Sola a spherical or two to search out his octagon legs, however I’m assured he finds McKee’s chin and scores a knockout.
William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchala
I’m curious to see how Robert Ruchala’s model interprets to the octagon. The KSW standout’s technique is primarily comprised of two phases: An evasive standup model that emphasizes lateral motion and a meat-and-potatoes wrestling assault wherein he makes environment friendly use of prime management. He has to take care of a UFC veteran in Gomis, who focuses on drawing opponents into unappealing fights.
If that seems like I’m damning Gomis with faint reward, nicely, I’m. Gomis has all the abilities of a contender however he hardly ever places them collectively in a manner that wows you. Wins are wins and no person can take that away from him, you’d identical to to see him make extra of an announcement when he has his hand raised, ?
Alternatives to impress on this one shall be few and much between as I count on Ruchala to spend so much of time on the skin on the lookout for openings to counter or shoot, whereas Gomis contentedly picks him aside from distance. Ruchala is a wild card who’s been combating professional for lower than six years, so he might carry one thing dynamic to his UFC debut. Nonetheless, if patterns maintain, Gomis possible does simply sufficient to win a call.
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