Borralho dismisses Chimaev's title claims and backs Imavov to face Strickland next

Caio Borralho has publicly dismissed Khamzat Chimaev’s case for a UFC middleweight title shot, insisting that Nassourdine Imavov should be next in line to challenge Sean Strickland at 185 pounds.

The Brazilian contender, nicknamed “The Natural”, is targeting a return to action in November or December after a rib injury forced him out of his scheduled bout with Joe Pyfer at UFC 330. Now back in full training and preparing to begin a new fight camp within weeks, Borralho used the downtime to offer a frank assessment of where the middleweight division stands.

On Chimaev, who is coming off a loss, Borralho was direct: the Chechen-Swedish former contender simply has not done enough to earn a crack at the title. Instead, Borralho pointed to Imavov — the only fighter to defeat him inside the UFC — as the deserving challenger.

“I think Imavov deserves the title next,” Borralho told MMA Fighting. “He already has a history with Strickland, that he lost in a light heavyweight fight, in a short-notice fight for Strickland, and I think he did everything that he needed to deserve the title shot, so I think he needs to be the one next.”

As for his own path to the championship, Borralho believes he needs one or two more wins before his name enters the title conversation. He is open to rescheduling the Pyfer fight but would prefer a higher-ranked opponent, with Brendan Allen also mentioned as a potential target.

“I think one or two more on the way to the belt,” he said. “I’m just waiting for the name. But we have Pyfer, we have Brendan Allen. Both of them I can fight. They can fight between two of them, or I can fight both of them. I think we’re in the top of the division, so anyone that wins the next fight may be the one next for the title shot.”

With the middleweight picture still unsettled around champion Strickland, Borralho’s comments add another voice to a crowded and increasingly vocal contender pool.