Caio Borralho isn’t pulling punches ahead of his biggest moment yet. The undefeated middleweight is set to collide with Nassourdine Imavov this September at UFC 319, and he’s already staking his claim as a legitimate title contender in the UFC's stacked 185-pound division.
In a fiery interview with Submission Radio, the Fighting Nerds standout shared his mindset and what separates him from the rest. Imavov was briefly considered as a backup for Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, but Borralho says resume and hype don’t tell the whole story.
“He acts like he had leverage, but he didn’t,” Borralho said. “Look at who he’s beaten—Brendan Allen, a controversial stoppage of Jarred Cannonier, and an aging Izzy. I’m 7-0 in the UFC, 9-0 counting the Contender Series, and I haven’t lost in a decade.”
Borralho didn’t shy away from revealing his game plan either: “I’ll pressure him from the start. He’s fast, sure—but I’ll take that away. Then I knock him out.”
While big names like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones grab headlines, Borralho is quietly building a case for the next title shot. With UFC 319 looming, his clash with Imavov could be the turning point.
Should he deliver as promised, Caio Borralho may not just win—he might punch his ticket to the top of the UFC middleweight rankings.
