Caio Borralho eyes UFC Saudi Arabia winner Nassourdine Imavov next

Caio Borralho sees Nassourdine Imavov as a logical subsequent opponent.

Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) emerged as a possible title contender when he knocked out former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Battle Evening 250 headliner at ANB Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Imavov known as for a title shot subsequent, however with streaking contender Borralho additionally vying for his shot, he likes the thought of them preventing subsequent.

“I feel Imavov is usually a nice struggle, however I feel (Robert) Whittaker is usually a nice struggle, too,” Borralho advised Submission Radio. “So whoever the UFC decides me to go, I’m prepared.”

Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who’s coming off a five-round primary occasion win over Jared Cannonier in August, thinks he can outlast Imavov.

“If it’s a five-round struggle. I feel he would possibly get drained with my tempo and my rhythm on him,” Borralho mentioned. “I for certain must get just a little bit conscious of his proper hand as a result of he comes very quick, and on this sport the pace and the timing beats every thing. So I feel we are able to have two nice, shut rounds, possibly three, however within the fourth or fifth, I feel I can push him just a little bit extra and possibly get the end – however for certain get the victory.”

Borralho admits he thought Adesanya would beat Imavov. He broke down the fight-ending sequence.

“I believed Israel was going to choose him aside for like three or 4 rounds after which possibly lose one spherical or one thing like that,” Borralho mentioned. “I believed it might be extra like on level to get hit and all that, however I feel he was good on hitting someone, however wasn’t that good when he will get hit. I feel he could be just a little bit off on the struggle time – the sparring time and all that. He’s not in his prime, for certain, however it’s laborious to say as a result of the man has been the GOAT for therefore lengthy, been so good for therefore lengthy.

“It’s laborious to see the man dropping that method, however I feel he did a mistaken alternative when he switched the stance too near Imavov, as a result of if you swap the stance, it’s essential to be just a little bit far-off from the man so you possibly can modify, and the man can modify simply too. However I feel he switched his stance so near Imavov, and he didn’t must adapt, after which he received clipped.”