It turns out that Caio Borralho, not Nassourdine Imavov, will serve as the backup fighter for the UFC 319 championship main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev on Aug. 16.
Borralho announced on social media that he will weigh in at 185 pounds as the reserve fighter in Chicago a day before UFC 319, and told MMA Fighting he will still face Imavov three weeks later in the main event of UFC Paris.
“Whenever the UFC calls, I’ll answer and be ready,” Borralho wrote. “See you in Chicago. Dricus and Chimaev, if you guys want to rest… I’m ready to fight!”
Imavov was originally expected to be the backup fighter in mid-August, but said “conditions changed” when he agreed to face Borralho in France.
No backup anymore. Conditions changed. You wanted to talk son, I’m here, I’m gonna break you @BorralhoCaio ⏳
— Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) June 17, 2025
Borralho (17-1) won seven in a row since joining the UFC in 2022, after a pair of victories at Dana White’s Contender Series. The Fighting Nerds talent earned bonuses for his 2024 wins over Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier.
Du Plessis (23-2) enters his third title defense at middleweight after tapping out Israel Adesanya and winning a rematch with Sean Strickland earlier this year. Chimaev (14-0) gets his long-awaited shot at UFC gold after a brutal first-round submission over Robert Whittaker this past October.
