The UFC returns to Paris on September 6, 2025, with a stacked card at the Accor Arena. The night is headlined by a middleweight showdown between #2 Nassourdine Imavov and #7 Caio Borralho, with a lightweight co-main event featuring #13 Benoît Saint-Denis against #15 Mauricio Ruffy.
Source: https://ufcstats.com/event-details/6e380a4d73ab4f0e
Nassourdine Imavov enters ranked #2 in the middleweight division with a 16–4–1 record. A French-Dagestani fighter, he is known for crisp boxing, sharp counters, and calm composure under pressure.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mma/fightcenter/_/id/600054419/league/ufc
Caio Borralho, ranked #7, holds a 17–1 record and remains unbeaten in his last five UFC bouts. A Brazilian southpaw with a wrestling and BJJ foundation, Borralho has developed a patient, technical striking game to complement his grappling.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caio_Borralho
Imavov’s strengths lie in his technical striking, clean jab, and ability to control range. He mixes in clinch attacks effectively. His challenge is endurance—he tends to slow in later rounds and has struggled at times against aggressive southpaws.
Borralho excels in grappling, top control, and a disciplined fight IQ. He is dangerous from the southpaw stance but faces questions after consecutive weight cuts that could impact his cardio, along with untested striking defense at the highest level.
Benoît Saint-Denis, ranked #13 in lightweight, is a former French Special Forces soldier with a 14–3–1 record. Nicknamed “God of War,” he is known for relentless grappling pressure and a high finishing rate.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beno%C3%AEt_Saint_Denis
Mauricio Ruffy, ranked #15 in lightweight, enters with a 12–1 record. The Brazilian has built a reputation as a knockout artist with explosive power and precise striking.
Source: https://www.ufc.com/rankings
Saint-Denis brings elite grappling, dangerous submissions, and a suffocating pace. His main vulnerability is striking defense—he often absorbs damage in exchanges before closing the distance.
Ruffy offers devastating KO power, clean counterstriking, and strong distance management. His challenge lies in limited grappling experience and lack of testing against top-tier wrestlers and submission artists.
For the main event, the winner between Imavov and Borralho is likely to secure a middleweight title shot against champion Khamzat Chimaev.
In the co-main event, the victor between Saint-Denis and Ruffy strengthens their standing in the lightweight rankings and moves closer to the title conversation.
Imavov made headlines by declining a backup role at UFC 319 and instead forcing Borralho into back-to-back weight cuts, a tactic that could drain the Brazilian on fight night.
Former champion Israel Adesanya has publicly picked Borralho to win, praising his technical southpaw striking and fight discipline.
Oddsmakers currently lean toward Borralho in the main event and Ruffy in the co-main event.
Source: https://www.ufc.com/rankings
Imavov and Saint-Denis will enjoy massive support from the Parisian fans.
Borralho’s consecutive weight cuts could affect his endurance in the later rounds.
Borralho is a slight favorite in the main event, while Ruffy edges the odds in the co-main.
