Caio Borralho will be the backup fighter for the UFC 319 main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, while still planning to fight Nassourdine Imavov three weeks later at UFC Paris.
Caio Borralho, not Nassourdine Imavov, steps in as the backup fighter for the UFC 319 championship main event. He’ll be ready to weigh in at 185 pounds in Chicago, a day before the big fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev on Aug. 16.
Borralho took to social media to announce his role, stating he’ll still face Imavov three weeks later in UFC Paris’s main event. “Whenever the UFC calls, I’ll answer and be ready,” he declared. “See you in Chicago. Dricus and Chimaev, if you guys want to rest… I’m ready to fight!”
Imavov was initially expected to be the backup but mentioned that “conditions changed” when he agreed to fight Borralho in France. He tweeted, “No backup anymore. Conditions changed. You wanted to talk son, I’m here, I’m gonna break you.”
Borralho, with a record of 17-1, has been on a roll, winning seven straight since joining the UFC in 2022. He snagged bonuses for his 2024 victories over Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier.
Du Plessis, boasting a 23-2 record, is defending his middleweight title for the third time. He’s fresh off a win against Israel Adesanya and a rematch victory over Sean Strickland. Meanwhile, Chimaev, undefeated at 14-0, is finally getting his shot at UFC gold after a stunning first-round submission over Robert Whittaker.