Chimaev widens his middleweight hit list

A quiet post-Shanghai Monday belonged to the matchmakers and the mouthpieces. Khamzat Chimaev broadened his middleweight callout and Caio Borralho jumped at it, while fight week opened for UFC Paris around Salahdine Parnasse's debut. In China's rear-view, Song Yadong extended an olive branch to the man who tried to crash his biggest night.

Chimaev widens callout, Borralho answers for UFC 334

Former champ Khamzat Chimaev (15-1), still waiting on a Sean Strickland rematch stalled by Strickland's shoulder injury, posted a callout naming Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho. Borralho (8-1 UFC) answered within hours, pitching a booking at UFC 334 (Madison Square Garden, Nov. 14) or UFC 335 (Las Vegas, December). Borralho says he's roughly 90-95% recovered from the rib surgery that scrapped his Joe Pyfer fight and wants a top-10 name, though he argues Imavov, not Chimaev, has earned the next title shot. Chimaev competes Sept. 5 in a Real American Freestyle grappling match against Tyron Woodley.

Why it matters: Middleweight is gridlocked with the champ hurt and Imavov owed a shot. Chimaev opening up to non-title fights and Borralho volunteering gives matchmakers a marketable pairing to run while the belt sits idle.

UFC Paris fight week: Hooker vows to spoil Parnasse's debut

The UFC returns to Paris' Accor Arena on Saturday with a five-round lightweight headliner between veteran Dan Hooker (24-14) and KSW two-division champ Salahdine Parnasse (23-2), who debuts in front of home fans. Hooker, on a two-fight skid to Arman Tsarukyan and Benoit Saint Denis, said he took the bout for double his Gaethje-fight purse and promised 'the first and last time this kid headlines a UFC event.' Parnasse is a heavy favorite (around -500). The card also features Fares Ziam, Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev and Morgan Charriere.

Why it matters: Parnasse is one of the UFC's splashiest recent free-agent signings; a debut win over a durable gatekeeper like Hooker instantly stamps him as a lightweight contender.

Song forgives Usman's cage rush after Shanghai KO

Song Yadong, who flatlined Umar Nurmagomedov with a second-round uppercut at UFC Shanghai, has defended Umar's brother Usman — the PFL lightweight champ who jumped the fence and appeared to load up an elbow during Song's celebration. Song said Usman 'just thought I was going over to attack him' and dismissed talk of malice. Analysts also weighed in: AKA's Javier Mendez pinned the finish on Umar dropping his head on a takedown attempt, while Henry Cejudo called it a fluke shot that Umar lands on the right side of 'nine out of 10 times.'

Why it matters: Song's magnanimity cools a flashpoint that nearly marred a landmark Chinese win, while the analyst chorus underlines how seriously to take a bantamweight who just crashed the title race.

Wood lands debuting Andrusca on five days' notice in Paris

With Mairon Santos off UFC Paris, No. 8 featherweight Nathaniel Wood (23-6) will instead face undefeated Moldovan Pavel Andrusca (8-0), who steps in on short notice for his UFC debut. Andrusca has finished seven of eight wins, including first-round KOs in his last two UAE Warriors bouts. Separately, Ares FC bantamweight champ Aboubakar Younousov (8-0) claimed Wood turned down a fight with him, blaming his '-ov' surname.

Why it matters: A high-risk, low-reward spot for Wood, who's on a four-fight run and wanted a ranked opponent — instead he's the established name a finisher can build a career on.

Prates plots a Makhachev upset: get smashed, then finish

Welterweight contender Carlos Prates (24-7), the frontrunner for the next crack at champ Islam Makhachev, told Gilbert Burns he expects to be dominated early before rallying for a late knockout, invoking Anderson Silva's comeback over Chael Sonnen. Prates said talks are underway on a date, floating UFC 335 (Dec. 12, Las Vegas) or January in Australia, and came away more confident after watching Ian Machado Garry trouble Makhachev's takedowns at UFC 330.

Why it matters: Makhachev's jump to 170 has a clear next challenger, and Prates' finishing power is the sharpest threat to a 17-fight win streak — even as oddsmakers make him a sizable underdog.

Perry breaks silence on dislocated shoulder, Duel Arena loss

Mike Perry (15-9) issued his first statement since Duel Arena 1, where he dislocated his shoulder and was stopped in the first round by short-notice replacement Brandon Jenkins after Dillon Danis withdrew. Perry offered only vague 'health is wealth' reflections and no timeline for a return. Jenkins took credit for an elbow he says caused the dislocation, and wants Nate Diaz next while leaving the door open to a Perry rematch in 2027.

Why it matters: Another setback for the 34-year-old, whose post-UFC run as a crossover attraction is wobbling; where he resurfaces — a return to MVP MMA or elsewhere — is now an open question.

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