UFC Paris gets high-profile main event fight with massive title implications

UFC Paris officially has its headlining bout, and the winner could potentially be the next challenger for the promotion’s middleweight title.

Following the UFC’s debut event there in 2022, Paris, France has become a staple of the UFC’s international calendar and has hosted a card each year since Ciryl Gane bested Tai Tuivasa in a “Fight of the Night”-winning main event at the Accor Arena.

The world’s leading MMA promotion returns to Paris again on September 6, and the card will officially be headlined by two of the very best middleweight fighters on the UFC roster.

Benoit Saint-Denis (red gloves) after fighting Thiago Moises (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. | Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho Headlines UFC Paris

Following plenty of back-and-forth between the two men in recent months, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho will finally meet in the Octagon as the main event for UFC Paris.

Currently the UFC’s #1-ranked middleweight contender, France’s Imavov is on a four-fight win streak that most recently saw “The Sniper” knock out two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia in February.

Nassourdine Imavov fights Jared Cannonier during the third round of their middleweight main bout at a UFC Fight Night. | Timothy D. Easley/Special to the Courier-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Borralho sits several spots below Imavov in the rankings at #6 but boasts an undefeated record since joining the UFC off of Dana White’s Contender Series, and the Brazilian is coming off a dominant showing in his first UFC Fight Night main event against Jared Cannonier last August.

Paul Craig (red gloves) fights Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC 301 at Rio Arena. | Jason Silva-Imagn Images

UFC Paris Winner Could Challenge For Middleweight Gold

The UFC Paris main event could very well decide the promotion’s next middleweight title challenger, and the timing couldn’t be better as Khamzat Chimaev prepares to challenge Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319.

Set to take place at Chicago’s United Center less than a month before Imavov and Borralho meet at UFC Paris, UFC 319 is topped by a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight that will see du Plessis try to defend his belt for a third time.

Dricus du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

“Stillknocks” is a perfect 9-0 in the UFC since joining the promotion in 2020, and after claiming the middleweight belt from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 the South African defended it against Adesanya before he bested Strickland once again in their rematch in February.

Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight belt in August. | (GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

The #3-ranked Chimaev brought his professional record to 14-0 with wins over former UFC titleholders Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker in his last two outings, and whichever man holds the middleweight belt after UFC 319 will likely watch the UFC Paris main event with a considerable amount of interest.

More MMA Knockout News

• UFC fighter gives priceless reaction to earning $100,000 bonus

• Jon Jones' retirement sparks trend in UFC not seen in 21 years

• Tom Aspinall called out by 'heavyweight Khabib' for first UFC title defense

• Dana White details Jon Jones UFC retirement conversation, teases Tom Aspinall plans

Stick with MMAKnockout for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.

Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.