Chimaev names four middleweight targets and Borralho immediately answers the call

Khamzat Chimaev has gone public with a four-man hit list at middleweight, and Caio Borralho wasted no time accepting the challenge, proposing bouts at Madison Square Garden in November or T-Mobile Arena in December.

Chimaev (15-1) lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 309 this past May in what ranked among the year’s biggest upsets. Despite entering as a heavy favourite, “Borz” showed signs of fatigue as early as the second round, and Strickland outlanded him on the feet across the championship rounds to claim the belt.

After months of pushing for an immediate rematch, Chimaev has now broadened his options. Posting on X, he addressed the division’s leading contenders directly: “I’m ready. Let me know when you are ready Sean, Dricus, Nassourdine, Caio.”

Borralho was the quickest to respond. “Finally someone called my name!” the Brazilian wrote. “My brother u know I love you, and I’m ready MSG November or T Mobile December! Just let me know.”

Borralho has built one of the more impressive recent records in the division, going 8-1 inside the UFC since earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. His only promotional loss came against Nassourdine Imavov, who is widely regarded as the most meritorious contender in the 185-pound rankings.

Imavov’s candidacy is complicated, however, by the fact that he has already fallen to Strickland — before the American won the title. Dricus Du Plessis, the other name on Chimaev’s list, holds two wins over Strickland and is coming off a dominant performance against Kamaru Usman, but was thoroughly outclassed by Chimaev when the pair met last year.

No fight has been formally booked, and Chimaev has yet to confirm when his next training camp will begin. With Borralho publicly lobbying for a late-2025 date, the middleweight division’s next major matchup could take shape quickly.