UFC 319: Borralho in Crosshairs for Accepting Backup Position
Caio Borralho, a known backup for UFC 319, is under fire from his roundabout rival. He has been selected as the stand-in athlete if competitors Dricus Du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev are unable to participate in the UFC middleweight championship bout. Although focused on training for an upcoming match, he keeps a vigilant watch on the main contest. He anticipates a 60/40 advantage in favor of Chimaev, should the event stick to plan. Yet, the competitor he’s set to face in UFC Paris is not thrilled by Borralho’s decision for reserve acceptance.
Nassourdine Imavov, the French middleweight fighter, originally had the chance to step in for the main bout participants, if required. However, he declined this invite. In voicing his disapproval of the backup concept, Imavov provides an explanation. He was not pleased with the idea of preparing intensely for a fight he might not partake in – a reasonable concern for any combatathlete.
In Imavov’s own words, he voiced his frustration: ‘The prospect of a title bout in August requiring me as backup equates to purposeless preparation. I refuse to train unnecessarily. The quality of my preparation is crucial when I am due to fight, and I’m not interested in being on standby.’ He then clarified his disinterest in the stand-in position by adding, ‘No, I’m not interested. I can imagine they will consider Caio instead.’
Imavov’s attention is exclusively on his upcoming Paris match with Borralho. His focus is entirely on the match and on his opponent, Borralho. His list of priorities does not include possible backup positions, it centres on direct combat with Borralho, which he is eager to take on.
Nassourdine didn’t just criticize Borralho’s acceptance of the potential backup position, he expressed annoyance at his counterpart’s attitude about it. Imavov’s displeasure concerning Borralho being ‘honoured’ by this opportunity was evident in his subsequent comment.
Speaking about his Brazilian adversary, the thirty-year-old Nassourdine Imavov carried on, ‘The reason he agreed to this proposal is his sense of honour by acting as a backup. However, in my point of view, he is merely accepting a position I previously turned down. Hence, he’s technically accepting my discarded opportunity.’
Nassourdine unleashed his harsh criticism towards Caio Borralho, who he labelled a ‘boring fighter’. Dubbing himself as ‘The Sniper’, he arrives at the anticipated main event with an impressive winning streak of four fights. A noticeable triumph in his professional fighting record is a remarkable knockout over the former middleweight kingpin, Israel Adesanya.
Packed with confidence and enthusiasm for the awaited contest, Imavov is determined to impress with an extraordinary bout against ‘The Natural’. He commented about his match outlook, stating, ‘I’m dedicated to putting together a notable show. It’s important for me to demonstrate that even going against a boring competitor could result in a thrilling competition.’
If the results sway in Imavov’s favour, he moves a step further towards seizing a UFC 319 middleweight championship belt. However, his next challenge might involve facing Reinier de Ridder, owing to de Ridder’s recent victory over Robert Whittaker.