Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to find Dricus Du Plessis, citing the champion's lack of response to his fight challenges. Du Plessis immediately reacted on social media, inviting the Brazilian to spar at his gym on Friday morning at 9 a.m., offering to film the session if desired. Du Plessis dismissed Borralho's efforts, stating that Borralho's name is not even under consideration for his next title defense. Borralho responded by telling Du Plessis to stop acting like a child and simply sign a fight contract. The public back-and-forth highlights the tension between the middleweight contender and the champion.
Caio Borralho took his middleweight title pursuit to an unexpected level, flying to South Africa to confront UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis in person after the champion repeatedly failed to respond to his fight callouts.
Borralho, 33, enters the confrontation as the fourth-ranked middleweight with a record of 18-2. The Brazilian southpaw out of The Fighting Nerds has built a reputation as a well-rounded contender, landing 3.44 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate — one of the sharper efficiency numbers in the division — while also averaging 1.28 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Du Plessis, the reigning champion ranked second in the division pound-for-pound at number seven, holds a 23-3 record and has established himself as one of the most active offensive fighters in the UFC. The South African switch-hitter lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute and adds 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes to his arsenal. He responded to Borralho's arrival swiftly on social media, inviting the challenger to come spar at his gym Friday morning at 9 a.m. and offering to film the session. Du Plessis simultaneously brushed off the stunt, making clear that Borralho's name is not currently on his radar for a title defense.
Borralho fired back, telling the champion to stop behaving like a child and simply sign a contract.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis vs. Borralho would pit the division's two most accurate strikers against each other, with contrasting volume and efficiency profiles
- At ranked fourth, Borralho is firmly inside the contender window for a title shot, making Du Plessis's dismissal a notable statement about who drives the champion's next defense
- The public escalation raises pressure on the UFC to formally address the matchup, with both fighters now visibly and loudly invested in the outcome
