A potential bout between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is currently in negotiations and could take place in July, according to a report from KevinK. This development raises questions about Caio Borralho's next opponent, as the middleweight contender may have been expecting to face one of these fighters. The report indicates the fight is still in the discussion phase and not yet finalized.
Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman are reportedly in negotiations for a middleweight bout that could take place in July, according to a report from KevinK. The fight has not been officially confirmed and remains in the discussion phase.
Du Plessis, ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh pound-for-pound, carries a 23-3-0 record and has established himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the 185-pound class. The 32-year-old South African fights out of a switch stance and brings a well-rounded offensive game, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Usman, 39, would be moving up a division from welterweight, where he currently sits ranked eighth with a 21-4-0 record. The Nigerian-born American fights out of Kill Cliff FC and remains a technically sound operator, landing 4.36 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
The report also raises complications for Caio Borralho, the fourth-ranked middleweight contender, who may have been in line to face one of these two fighters. The 33-year-old Brazilian carries an 18-2-0 record and posts a striking accuracy of 56 percent, the highest among the three fighters mentioned in connection with this situation.
Why it matters
- A Du Plessis vs. Usman booking would be a high-profile cross-divisional matchup with significant middleweight title implications
- Usman moving up to 185 pounds adds an unpredictable element to the divisional picture
- Borralho, firmly in title contention at number four, could see his path to a title shot reshuffled depending on how negotiations develop
- The fight is unconfirmed, and the picture at middleweight may look considerably different once an official announcement is made
