Nassourdine Imavov Declines Caio Borralho Fight Amid Interim Title Talks

Nassourdine Imavov, the UFC's top-ranked middleweight following his knockout win over Israel Adesanya, has declined a fight offer from No. 6 ranked Caio Borralho, arguing that defeating lower-ranked opponents like Borralho would not benefit his career and would only invite criticism. Imavov emphasized that he is focused on facing higher-ranked fighters and believes patience is key in advancing within the division. This decision has led to public exchanges between the two, with Borralho accusing Imavov of ducking him and seeking opportunities against other top contenders, including Khamzat Chimaev. Despite Borralho's efforts to secure high-profile fights, both Imavov and Chimaev have expressed little interest in fighting him at this time. The uncertainty around champion Dricus Du Plessis's injury and the possibility of an interim title fight has further complicated the middleweight title picture, leaving the next matchups for Imavov, Borralho, and Chimaev still unclear.