Following a weekend break from fights, UFC action resumes on Saturday with a middleweight matchup between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, taking place at Accor Arena in Paris at 3 p.m. ET (prelims start at noon on ESPN+).
Ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s middleweight division, Imavov arrives with a four-fight winning streak, his latest victory being a second-round TKO against former titleholder Israel Adesanya in February.
Borralho holds the No. 6 position according to ESPN and remains undefeated in his nine UFC competitions. This will mark his first appearance in the Octagon in 2025 and he was the first member of the Fight Nerds gym to secure a UFC contract in 2021.
The co-main event features fellow Fight Nerd Mauricio Ruffy competing against Benoît Saint Denis.
ESPN’s MMA analysts and commentators have shared their predictions, while betting expert Ian Parker offers insights on potential value bets featured in the event.
Main Event Predictions
Anthony Smith notes that Borralho’s grappling skills alongside his developing striking make him a threat, particularly against Imavov, who tends to struggle with versatile fighters. This could be the deciding factor in the match.
Din Thomas emphasizes that if Imavov starts slowly, Borralho could capitalize and win decisively by utilizing his unpredictable fighting style and footwork, taking control of the rounds.
Betting Insights
Odds accurate as of Sept. 4. For the latest odds, visit ESPN BET.
According to Parker, betting on over 4.5 rounds at -240 is advisable. Both fighters are well-matched, but Borralho’s ground game may provide the edge. Historically, neither has been finished in the Octagon, indicating that this should be a competitive bout.
