Overview
- Fresh off a unanimous decision over Caio Borralho in Paris (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), Nassourdine Imavov ended Borralho’s decade-long unbeaten run.
- Imavov declared “I am next” in his post-fight interview and said he welcomes being the underdog if matched with Khamzat Chimaev.
- Newly crowned champion Khamzat Chimaev is 15-0 after beating Dricus du Plessis last month to claim the middleweight title.
- Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker say the viable route to upset Chimaev is to neutralize his wrestling through elite takedown defense or top-tier Jiu-Jitsu.
- The UFC has not confirmed the challenger, with Dana White pointing to the Oct. 18 De Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez bout as pivotal, and Joe Rogan suggesting Sean Strickland as an alternative option.