Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again venture away from the familiarity of its APEX facility and ship its cast and crew across the world for the upcoming UFC Paris fight card, locked and loaded for tomorrow afternoon (Sat., Sept. 6, 2025) from inside Accor Arena in Paris, France, featuring a 185-pound headliner between No. 1-ranked
middleweight contender, Nassourdine Imavov, and fast-rising division contender, Caio Borralho.Like most “Fight Night” cards, you’ll need a subscription
to ESPN+ to stream this weekend’s event (sign up here).
Before we dive into the main and co-main event, which includes the lightweight showdown between hard-hitting fan favorites Benoit Saint Denis and Mauricio Ruffy, check out Andrew Richardson’s “X-Factor” breakdown for the rest of the UFC Paris main card by clicking here. Get all the latest “Imavov vs. Borralho” odds and betting props courtesy of FanDuel right here.
Let’s get down to business.
185 lbs.: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho
Nassourdine “The Sniper” Imavov
Record: 16-4 | Age: 30 | Betting line: +110
Wins: 7 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, 5 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 3 DEC
Height: 6’3” | Reach: 75” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.45 | Striking accuracy: 55%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.26 | Striking Defense: 58%
Takedown Average: 0.85 (32% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 78%
Current Ranking: No. 2 | Last fight: Technical knockout victory over Israel Adesanya
Caio “The Natural” Borralho
Record: 17-1, 1 NC | Age: 32 | Betting line: -130
Wins: 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, 8 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 1 DEC
Height: 6’1” | Reach: 75” | Stance: Southpaw
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.61 | Striking accuracy: 60%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 2.34 | Striking Defense: 62%
Takedown Average: 1.56 (60% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 76%
Current Ranking: No. 7 | Last fight: Unanimous decision victory over Jared Cannonier
We’re just a couple of weeks away from Nassourdine Imavov’s five-year anniversary with UFC and at the time of his signing, ”The Sniper” felt like another one of those solid (but unspectacular) local fighters who were onboarded to help fill the lineup for the promotion’s annual trip to Paris. Instead, we have a bona fide title contender riding a four-fight win streak, which includes his finish over Israel Adesanya last Feb. in Saudi Arabia. Whether or not that performance impresses you may depend on how you view the 36 year-old Adesanya at this stage of his career; which admittedly, has not been going well for quite some time.
I’m also not popping any bubbly for his finish over the shopworn Jared Cannonier, who is 41 years old and holds just one victory in his last four fights. Imavov’s other notable wins include Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze, a pair of tough outs who are nowhere near the Top 5 of the division. I can’t help but wonder how much “The Sniper” is focusing on his opponent with all his talk about fighting Khamzat Chimaev for the 185-pound strap.
“There won’t be a semifinal,” Imavov told reporters during the UFC Paris media day. With a win, I’m the next contender. Like I said, no one has done what I’ve done: Five wins. Who knocked out Israel (Adesanya) in that fashion? Who did? So, no, I’m the next contender for the title.”
“For me, yes,” Imavov continued. “He deserves? I don’t agree with that. Why does he deserve? For what reason? What has he done? It’s been a year since he last fought. Last year he fought twice. He doesn’t deserve it more than Reinier De Ridder. De Ridder deserves it more than him. You know what I mean? What’s the reason? Why is he this privileged? He’s a kiss-ass.”
Caio Borralho didn’t need to kiss anyone’s ass to earn his spot atop the UFC Paris fight card because he’s won seven straight fights under the UFC banner, not including his pair of wins on Dana White’s “Contender Series” in late 2021. We can make the same argument about his strength of schedule that we made against Imavov and compared to “The Sniper,” Borralho has the far weaker resume. To wit, “The Natural’s” only victory over a Top 15 opponent has comer against the No. 11-ranked Cannonier, who can’t even remember the questions he’s answering when called upon by the combat sports media.
That doesn’t make his performances any less dynamic, we just haven’t seen Borralho tested.
“I’m preparing to fight the best guy in the world,” Borralho told MMAJunkie Radio. “If he doesn’t show up like that, it’s just profit for me. But I’m taking this fight as I take all my last fights. All the fights that I have right now are the biggest fights of my life, the most important fight of my life, and the hardest fight of my life. So I need to prepare properly for this fight.”
“I’m taking him very seriously. I know that he’s a phenomenal athlete, and I’m preparing for that,” Borralho continued. “Me and Imavov, we just need to go in there and don’t do a boring fight. That’s all. I think it doesn’t matter how the fight ends, if it’s a finish or it’s a decision by a dominant or great fight, I think whoever wins is going to be the next one in line.”
Both fighters are excellent strikers with formidable wrestling, which suggests this fight will play out on the feet. Neither Imavov nor Borralho have been stopped in their respective careers and I’m expecting a decision here, as well. I know it sounds cliche to harp on the Brazilian’s unnecessary weight cut for UFC 319, where he served as championship backup, but that is the same strategy that nearly got Tony Ferguson killed back in early 2020. Borralho will have his moments early on, but Imavov will stick to a nuts-and-bolts attack that focuses on points and longevity, taking advantage of a slowed Borralho in the latter half of the fight.
Prediction: Imavov def. Borralho by decision
155 lbs.: Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Benoit “God of War” Saint Denis
Record: 14-3, 1 NC | Age: 29 | Betting line: +145
Wins: 4 KO/TKO, 10 SUB, 0 DEC | Losses: 2 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 1 DEC
Height: 5’11” | Reach: 73” | Stance: Southpaw
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.39 | Striking accuracy: 55%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.61 | Striking Defense: 41%
Takedown Average: 4.19 (39% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 70%
Current Ranking: No. 13 | Last fight: Submission victory over Kyle Prepolec
Mauricio Ruffy
Record: 12-1 | Age: 29 | Betting line: -175
Wins: 11 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 1 DEC | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 0 DEC
Height: 5’11” | Reach: 75” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.54 | Striking accuracy: 58%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.59 | Striking Defense: 61%
Takedown Average: 0.00 (0% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 100%
Current Ranking: Unranked | Last fight: Knockout victory over Bobby Green
Benoit Saint Denis had a brutal 2024, losing back-to-back fights to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano — both by second-round knockout. That cost him some real estate in the 155-pound rankings and nearly his job, but the 29 year-old “God of War” was able to rebound with a submission victory over Canadian journeyman Kyle Prepolec at UFC 315 just a few months back. We can argue about the quality of his win but sometimes it’s just about getting your confidence back, something Saint Denis clearly needed to do after going down in flames to a pair of veteran bangers in the form of Poirier and Moicano.
“It was a very tough year due to the pressure I had been putting on myself,” Saint Denis told Fighters Only. “A lot of stuff I didn’t manage well with the rise (up the division). I had too much pressure on my shoulders, and I couldn’t take it. I have learned a lot from it. Now I have a staff and head coach very competitive that are bringing me back to do what I love about this sport. It’s training to be a better man and a better fighter, which is helping me come back a lot stronger. I really enjoy the process right now, and I don’t put myself under that kind of pressure anymore.”
Saint Denis may not feel the pressure at this stage of his career but this fight may determine his future at 155 pounds. Mauricio Ruffy is one of the celebrated “Fighting Nerds” who graduated Dana White’s “Contender Series” and has since racked up three straight wins with two knockouts.
“I think [Ruffy] is good, very, very tricky and good in a couple of (areas), but our mission is to expose him,” Saint Denis told UFC.com. “I think [the French atmosphere] will impact him. He is not ready, he hasn’t experienced it yet. It will do something to him, but I want to fight the best Mauricio Ruffy. I hope he keeps concentrated. I have learned a lot off the past two fights, and that’s why (they) didn’t go my way, because I think I had no experience of all this media and pressure. Now that I have it, I’m back to doing what I like and love – fighting.”
Ruffy may have the momentum right now but Saint Denis has the experience. The toughest test the Brazilian has faced is veteran lightweight King Green, who turns 39 in just a few days, has 17 career losses, and dropped three of his last four. Ruffy’s other two wins have come over James Llontop — who is no longer with the promotion — and Jamie Mullarkey, who’s been knocked out in three of his last four fights.
Not exactly the cream of the crop.
“I don’t think this is my toughest fight,” Ruffy told reporters during the UFC Paris media day. “Before I joined UFC, I fought Raimond (Magomedaliev) who’s a guy who trained with Khabib (Nurmagomedov). He weighed 10 kilos more than me and I beat him. I fought in a tournament fighting two grapplers on the same night [and I] came out successful. I fought King Green, who was ranked at the time and who’d faced everyone in the division. I don’t underestimate, or I don’t belittle Benoit in any way, but I’m really excited to go in there and show everyone what I’m capable of.”
“I’ve been visualizing my win a lot over Benoit, and I think after I beat him, I want to go to a Top 5 contender,” Ruffy added. “The last two guys that he fought were lucky enough to go and fight for the title. So, I spoke with my team, and we decided that Benoit was the right path to get to the title. So, I’m excited for that. I see Benoit as a very aggressive guy even in the way he speaks, the way he carries himself. He’s a very intense and aggressive guy, and I’m a guy who’s very calculated and very accurate guy, who takes his time to find the right shots. So, I see a knockout, but I’m very excited and ready to go.”
Saint Denis has proven to be one of the most exciting fighters in the lightweight division, racking up four post-fight performance bonuses with two “Fight of the Night” honors. Similarly, Ruffy has already bagged two bonuses of his own in just three fights, so expect a wild, back-and-forth brawl that doesn’t make it to the judges’ scorecards. “God of War” certainly has the skills to win this fight, but not necessarily the fight I.Q., as he seems to bang like a French Michael Chandler. It’s up to Ruffy to withstand the initial blitzkrieg, then fire back in kind — without getting smoked in the process.
A first-round finish would not surprise me.
Prediction: Ruffy def. Saint Denis by knockout
Remember to catch the rest of the UFC Paris main card predictions RIGHT HERE.
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