According to reporter KevinK, a fight between middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is currently in negotiations and could take place in July. This potential matchup raises questions about what will happen with Caio Borralho, who was previously considered a potential title challenger. If Du Plessis fights Usman instead, it would alter the trajectory of the middleweight division. The post notes that negotiations are ongoing but no official announcement has been made. This would mark Usman's attempt to become a two-division UFC champion after his lengthy reign as welterweight champion.
Reports emerged on April 30 that UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman are in negotiations for a July bout, according to reporter KevinK. No official announcement has been made, and the fight should be treated as unconfirmed at this stage.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the middleweight title, currently ranked second in the division and seventh pound-for-pound. The South African out of Team CIT is an active and aggressive fighter, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he presents a well-rounded threat across all phases.
Usman, 39, enters the conversation with a 21-4-0 record, most of it built during a dominant welterweight title reign. Now listed at welterweight rank eight, the American nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare" trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings elite wrestling to any matchup, averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes. A win at middleweight would make him a two-division UFC champion.
The potential pairing also clouds the picture for Caio Borralho, the 33-year-old Brazilian ranked fourth at middleweight with an 18-2-0 record. Borralho had been seen as a leading title contender, and a Du Plessis vs. Usman booking would push that opportunity further down the road.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis would be putting his middleweight title on the line against a fighter moving up from welterweight
- A Usman victory would reshape the two-division champion conversation at 185 pounds
- Borralho, currently ranked fourth with a strong 56 percent striking accuracy, risks being bypassed despite a compelling contender case
- Negotiations remain ongoing with no date or venue confirmed
