The City of Lights was set ablaze on September 6, 2025, as UFC Fight Night 258 unfolded at Accor Arena in Paris. In front of a raucous home crowd, Nassourdine Imavov delivered a masterclass in technical striking and composure, outpointing Brazil’s Caio Borralho in a dominant unanimous decision that could have title implications in the UFC’s middleweight division.
Imavov, now boasting a 17-4 MMA record with a 9-2 mark inside the UFC, used precision boxing and relentless pressure to keep Borralho at bay for five rounds. The judges’ scorecards told the tale: 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46, all in favor of the Frenchman. For Borralho, who entered the contest with a 17-1 MMA record and a remarkable 16-fight win streak stretching over a decade, it was a bitter pill to swallow—his first loss in the UFC and an abrupt end to his unbeaten run.
"I think Nassourdine was just the better man today," Borralho admitted in his post-fight interview inside the octagon. "He was very fast, as I was expecting. He did very good in the fight. I couldn't attack that much. I wanted to make this fight entertaining for the fans and for the UFC, so I tried to strike with one of the best strikers in the world, and that's what you guys saw: a great war."
The Brazilian contender was candid about his struggles on fight night, revealing a surprising lack of adrenaline and fire. "I just think that I need to find my adrenaline back. I need to find, not motivation, but I was with no adrenaline or nothing. I couldn't pick it up into the fight. But this is the fight business. I'm a happy athlete. I'm a happy guy here in the UFC," Borralho reflected, before turning to the fans. "First of all, I want to say France, thank you so much for having us. You guys, I heard that you guys were some of the craziest fans in MMA, and it was right. Thank you for that. Thank you, Nassourdine for the respect. Thank you so much."
Imavov, meanwhile, was quick to acknowledge the significance of his victory—not only did he halt Borralho’s decade-long streak, but he also solidified his position as the No. 2-ranked contender at 185 pounds. Standing in the octagon, Imavov made his ambitions crystal clear: "I am next," he declared, sending a direct message to middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. "[Borralho] was unbeaten for 10 years. I just beat him, and beat him with style as well. I need to be the next one [to fight for the UFC middleweight title]."
Imavov’s performance didn’t go unnoticed among the UFC elite. Islam Makhachev, a former pound-for-pound king and respected champion in his own right, took to social media immediately after the fight to offer his praise: "Dominant performance @imavov1. Congrats, bro." The weight of such recognition isn’t lost in the world of MMA, where respect is earned through grit and achievement. Imavov responded with humility and gratitude, replying, "Thank you, brother! Alhamdoullilah." This brief but heartfelt exchange between two of the sport’s top talents highlighted the mutual admiration that exists at the pinnacle of mixed martial arts.
Yet, as is often the case in the fight business, even a dominant win doesn’t always guarantee a title shot. Daniel Cormier, himself a former two-division champion and now a respected analyst, offered a measured take on Imavov’s performance. "When you’re in the situation Imavov was in tonight, and you get a dominant win like that, guys make no mistake about it, 4-1 on two scorecards, 5-0 on one scorecard, that’s a dominant win over a very good guy. But is it enough?… But I think because it wasn’t a finish…I think people will want to wait and see because if Fluffy and them look good, if Fluffy can replicate what he did in the last fight, they’ll go that’s more impressive. That seems more dangerous to Khamzat Chimaev."
Indeed, the UFC’s middleweight title picture remains fluid. All eyes now turn to the upcoming clash between Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez in Vancouver next month. Should either fighter deliver a spectacular finish, they could leapfrog Imavov in the queue for a shot at Chimaev’s crown. For now, Imavov sits in the driver’s seat, but the competition isn’t over just yet.
The main event wasn’t the only story in Paris. The co-headliner saw local favorite Benoit Saint Denis submit Mauricio Ruffy with a rear-naked choke at 2:56 of the second round, ending Ruffy’s seven-fight winning streak and marking Saint Denis’s second consecutive victory. The lightweight contender now has his sights set on Mateusz Gamrot for his next challenge. Further down the card, Mason Jones notched a technical knockout win over Bolaji Oki, and Modestas Bukauskas continued his own winning streak with a knockout of Paul Craig.
Beyond the action inside the cage, UFC Fight Night 258 was notable for its fighter compensation. The event saw a total of $185,500 distributed under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program, a system that rewards athletes based on their number of UFC and certain Zuffa-era bouts. Imavov earned $11,000 for his 11-15 UFC appearances, while Borralho took home $6,000. The program, which replaced the previous UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy, also includes royalty payments of 20-30% for any UFC merchandise bearing a fighter’s likeness—a nod to the evolving landscape of athlete compensation in MMA.
As the dust settles in Paris, the questions swirl: Has Imavov done enough to secure his long-awaited title shot? Will the upcoming contenders steal the spotlight with a highlight-reel finish? And can Borralho, who has shown both humility and determination, rediscover his fire and return to the win column?
One thing’s for sure: UFC Fight Night 258 delivered drama, skill, and plenty of storylines for fans to follow as the race for middleweight gold heats up. With Imavov’s star rising and the middleweight landscape shifting, all eyes are now fixed on what comes next in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.
