Nassoudrine Imavov (image via UFC / X)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Dana White has said the winner of Saturday’s bout between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho is not guaranteed a title shot. But, the middleweight contender intends to lock that opportunity up with a decisive win at UFC Paris.

Imavov (16-4) has won four in a row and is coming off a stoppage win over former champ, Israel Adesanya. Borralho (17-1), meanwhile, has won fourteen in a row and has gone 7-0 in the UFC to date.

But despite this, White has left the door open as to whether Saturday’s fight is a title shot eliminator. A key reason being that rising middleweight contenders Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez are also scheduled to fight on October 18th.

Imavov was asked about this while talking to MMA Fighting ahead of UFC Paris, and the Dagestani fighter made it clear he’s not worried about the situation.

“No, I’m not disappointed,” Imavov said. “I know what I’m worth, and after this fight, I’m going to be the No. 1 contender for the belt, and I know that what I’ve done in the weight class, no one else has done it. Like if you talk about those three contenders, they didn’t do what I did.”

The 30-year-old also predicted that he will take Borralho out at UFC Paris, and in doing so, the promotion will have no other choice but to give him a title shot.

“Without a doubt, I’m going to finish him and I’m always, during the fight, going to be looking for the finish.”

“I’m just different [from] any other guys in the weight class,” Imavov added in the interview. “Right now I’m focusing on this fight, but after this fight, we’re going to concentrate on the [Khamzat] and prepare everything well. [But] I’m just different from anyone in the weight class.”

UFC Paris will be hosted by the historic city’s Accor Arena. As the event approaches, Imavov is ranked #2 in the UFC’s middleweight division and Borralho is ranked #7. De Ridder and Hernandez are ranked #4 and #6 respectively.