by Nassourdine Imavov confirms that he refused the UFC 319 title Fight Backup Slot, but says it was for quality reasons.
With its UFC Fight Night 258 Main Event on the Horizon, Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) does not see much reward when traveling around the world, fighting jetlag and cutting weight, not to even fight.
He initially agreed to fulfill the role when it seemed that the approaching title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev would happen in late spring or early summer. But after the timeline was pushed, Imavov refused.
Even the showdown of 2 September versus Caio Borralho in Paris, he regards as a bit of a temporary designation, although a necessary.
“I had something like:” Ok, if the title fight is in August and I have to be the backup, then I don’t want to train for nothing. I don’t want to train for nothing, “Imavov told MMA Junkie on Tuesday through a French -speaking interpreter.” … So I had something like: “Maybe it’s better to concentrate on Caio Borralho.” The UFC asked us a few weeks ago to get to the US for the weighting and everything. I said no because I have a fight that was planned three weeks later. But at the moment I only concentrate on Caio in Paris. “
Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) weighs in Chicago instead on 15 August. He proudly revealed the back -up hunter designation on social media.
However, the designation is not a praise for Imavov.
“For me it’s his problem,” said Imavov. “He agreed because he was honored to be the backup, but he just takes my leftovers with me because I refused. Otherwise, if I hadn’t refused, the UFC would not call him to be the backup. He should understand this. In my mind I should not use it as an apology or dodge the fight.
“Even for me, if the backup for a title shot, it is not an honor for me. Because if I want to fight for the title, I want to have my face on the poster. Because he is going to do? He is going to make weight and be there in Chicago in Chicago there.
Title Eliminator – No doubt, Imavov confirms
Imavov says without a doubt, when he comes through Borralho, he will be the next UFC Middleweight Title -Uitdager. He says the UFC has told him so much.
A victory would make the five wins in a row on the top 10 opponents since February 2024. Other victories in the play are Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen and Israel Adesanya.
“It’s very simple: I’m a complete hunter,” said Imavov. “I consider myself a complete hunter. So if it has to go to the ground, it goes to the ground. I will welcomes him to the floor. If it stays, it will be (better) and I will just demolish him. The thing is that I don’t speak too much, but when I fight, I want to bring a real show to my fans.”
“… he just wants to win the fight in this way, have a strange fight, a not interesting fight. That is not how I am used to. For me I will make this fight in a spectacular way. It is important for me to show people that I can make a boring hunter, a great fight.”
