Group Combating Nerds’ Caio Borralho believes Sean Strickland has a greater probability of dethroning UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev than high contender Nassourdine Imavov, who’s using a five-fight win streak and has additionally overwhelmed Borralho in 2025.
Throughout a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Borralho firstly lauded Strickland’s UFC Houston efficiency, the place the previous UFC champ stopped Anthony Hernandez in Spherical 3 by TKO and reinserted himself into the race for a title shot.
Caio Borralho thinks Sean Strickland would fare higher towards Khamzat Chimaev than Nassourdine Imavov
Throughout the identical interview, when requested to weigh in on who has the higher probability of dethroning Khamzat Chimaev between Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland, Borralho picked the American.
Though “The Sniper” ended Borralho’s undefeated run within the UFC, he nonetheless believes former coaching associate “Tarzan” has a greater probability towards the Chechen-born Emirati. He stated:
“I believe Imavov is the higher striker, I may say sooner and all that. I felt that. I already fought with one among them and educated with the opposite, totally different types. However I believe that Imavov wouldn’t achieve this good with Khamzat’s wrestling, you already know. That’s the best way that I believe Strickland may go. I don’t know if Strickland may actually like wrestle with Khamzat, however I believe he may defend just a little bit extra and make Khamzat just a little bit extra drained and all that, however everyone knows that Khamzat’s wrestling is on one other degree. So, I believe your query was if I believe he would do higher than Imavov. I believe so.”
Try Caio Borralho’s feedback beneath (4:08)
Borralho believes Sean Strickland’s sharp jab, relentless ahead strain, unorthodox hanging type, and his capability to dictate the tempo and defend takedowns may make him a serious challenge for the UFC middleweight kingpin.
Borralho, in the meantime, returned to profitable methods this previous weekend at UFC 326, cruising to a unanimous resolution victory over Reinier de Ridder.
Now, “The Pure” has his crosshairs on former champ Dricus du Plessis. This previous weekend, throughout the octagon interview, Borralho advised Joe Rogan:
“However I’ve one title in my thoughts, Joe. Dricus du Plessis, the place are you, boy?”
Try Caio Borralho’s feedback beneath (2:31):
