Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Nassourdine Imavov (red gloves) fights Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

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Nassourdine Imavov Responds To Islam Makhachev’s Praise After Dominant UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho Performance

Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Nassourdine Imavov (red gloves) fights Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Recognition from your peers hits different when you are a professional fighter. In MMA, where respect is earned through blood, sweat, and countless hours of training, having established champions acknowledge your work carries serious weight. When former pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev takes time to praise your performance, you know you have done something special inside that octagon. And Nassourdine Imavov experienced this firsthand after his dominant victory over Caio Borralho at UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho.

The Russian-born Frenchman put on a clinic against the previously unbeaten Brazilian. He won every round on the scorecards for one judge and 4-1 on the other two judges. In doing so, he ended the unbeaten streak of the ‘Fighting Nerd’. Now, hours after the win, Nassourdine Imavov responded to Islam Makhachev’s praise.

Mutual Respect Between The Fighters

Makhachev didn’t waste time showing his appreciation for Imavov’s work at UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho. The Dagestani champion took to social media immediately after the fight, posting a simple but meaningful message that read,

“Dominant performance @imavov1. Congrats, bro.”

Coming from someone who has dominated opponents throughout his own career, this praise carried significant weight. Makhachev understands what it takes to control every aspect of a fight. He clearly saw those same qualities in Imavov’s performance against Borralho.

Imavov’s response was equally respectful and heartfelt. The French middleweight replied with this;

“Thank you, brother! Alhamdoullilah.”

Thank you brother! Al hamdoullilah https://t.co/SMUDyyBylI
— Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) September 6, 2025

The Arabic phrase “Alhamdoullilah,” meaning “praise be to God,” reflects both fighters’ shared cultural background. This brief exchange between two of the sport’s top talents demonstrates the respect that exists between fighters who have proven themselves against the best competition in the world.

Is This Dominant Win From Nassourdine Imavov Enough For A Title Shot?

While Nassourdine Imavov celebrated his victory, the big question remained: Whether his performance was enough to earn him the next shot at the title? The French fighter certainly made his case during his post-fight interview. He told Dana White that he believed he deserved the opportunity and that there should be no debate about his status as the number one contender.

However, not everyone was convinced that Imavov had locked up the title shot just yet. Daniel Cormier, the former two division champion turned analyst, delivered a harsh reality check during his breakdown of the fight on his YouTube channel. While Cormier acknowledged that Imavov’s performance was dominant, he questioned whether it was impressive enough to guarantee a title shot. The former champion explained that because the win wasn’t a spectacular finish, the UFC might want to wait and see how the upcoming fight between Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez plays out in Vancouver.

“When you’re in the situation Imavov was in tonight, and you get a dominant win like that, guys make no mistake about it, 4-1 on two scorecards, 5-0 on one scorecard, that’s a dominant win over a very good guy. But is it enough?… But I think because it wasn’t a finish…I think people will want to wait and see because if Fluffy and them look good, if Fluffy can replicate what he did in the last fight, they’ll go that’s more impressive. That seems more dangerous to Khamzat Chimaev.”

This perspective highlights how the fight business often values spectacular finishes over technical dominance. This even comes at the cost of bypassing the better athlete over a highlight finish. Now it remains to be seen what the UFC will decide once de Ridder and Hernandez scrap it out next month.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Caio Borralho

Daniel Cormier

Islam Makhachev

Nassourdine Imavov

UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!