Sean Strickland Rips Caio Borralho Over UFC 319 Backup Role After UFC Paris Loss
The fallout from UFC Paris has placed Caio Borralho under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The Brazilian middleweight suffered a five-round decision defeat to France’s own Nassourdine Imavov in the main event, and training partner Sean Strickland has made it clear who he thinks is to blame.
Sean Strickland Calls Out Borralho
Strickland didn’t hold back in criticizing Borralho’s decision to serve as a backup for UFC 319, where Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis will headline for the middleweight title. According to Strickland, Borralho’s camp was derailed by unnecessary weight cuts.
Caio is my buddy but hes an idiot. He trained with us and was useless.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) September 7, 2025
Me "whats wrong with you"
Caio "Im cutting, im an alternate"
So you're giving up 4 weeks of your camp cutting weight twice while having a fight coming up?
Whoever told you to do that, please hit him
For Strickland, who has been blunt in his assessments of fellow fighters, the situation was simple: Borralho sabotaged himself. “Giving up four weeks of your camp to cut weight twice is madness,” he said, suggesting Borralho’s energy was drained long before fight night.
Imavov’s Team Says It Was a Strategy
Interestingly, Imavov’s camp has revealed they expected Borralho’s ego to push him into the alternate role — and they capitalized on it. Originally, Imavov himself was considered for the backup slot to Du Plessis vs. Chimaev, but his team pulled out intentionally.
Nassourdine Imavov says he was originally scheduled to weigh in as backup for Chimaev vs Du Plessis but chose not to because he knew Caio Borralho would instead due to his “Ego”.
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) September 2, 2025
Imavov says it was all part of their strategy headed into the UFC Paris main event. pic.twitter.com/yN32NNdwJn
“When we pulled out of the backup role, we knew Caio would take it,” Imavov’s manager Yunes Ben explained. “We did it on purpose because we knew it would damage his camp.” That gamble seemed to pay off when Imavov executed a composed game plan to outpoint Borralho across five rounds.
Missed Opportunity at UFC 319
What stings most for Borralho is the missed chance to potentially step in at UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev. Given how often Chimaev has pulled out of fights, Borralho had a real shot at being elevated into a middleweight title bout. Instead, he entered Paris compromised and lost momentum in the division.
For Strickland and other critics, the lesson is obvious: focus on your fight, not on being a safety net for others. The UFC is unforgiving, and sacrificing your own preparation rarely ends well. As Borralho licks his wounds, Imavov surges forward, and the middleweight picture grows more volatile heading into UFC 319.
FAQs About Caio Borralho and UFC Paris
Why did Sean Strickland call Caio Borralho an idiot?
Strickland criticized Borralho for cutting weight twice to be a backup for UFC 319, which he believes ruined Borralho’s training camp before UFC Paris.
Who won the UFC Paris main event?
Nassourdine Imavov defeated Caio Borralho by unanimous decision in front of his home crowd.
Was Caio Borralho the backup for UFC 319?
Yes, Borralho accepted the backup role for Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, which required another weight cut during his camp.
What did Imavov’s team say about the backup role?
Imavov’s team admitted they avoided the backup spot intentionally, knowing Borralho’s ego would make him take it and compromise his preparation.
