According to sources, a middleweight bout between champion Dricus Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is currently in negotiations and could take place in July. The report comes from KevinK. If this fight materializes, it raises questions about what opponent Caio Borralho would face instead. No official announcement has been made by the UFC. The potential matchup would mark Usman's second fight at middleweight after moving up from welterweight.
Reports emerged on April 30 that UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman are in negotiations for a title fight that could land in July, though no official announcement from the UFC has been made. The report, attributed to KevinK, should be treated as unconfirmed at this stage.
Du Plessis, known as "Stillknocks," carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the middleweight title at just 32 years old. The South African fights out of Team CIT and operates out of a switch stance, standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He lands an impressive 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also contributes on the ground with 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. He is currently ranked number seven in the pound-for-pound standings.
Usman, nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," brings a 21-4-0 record into the potential contest. The 39-year-old American, who trains with Kill Cliff FC, built his legacy at welterweight before making the jump to middleweight. At six feet tall with a matching 76-inch reach, Usman lands 4.36 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and has historically been a formidable wrestler, averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes. He is currently ranked eighth at welterweight. If the fight is made, it would represent his second outing at middleweight.
The report also raises questions around fourth-ranked middleweight contender Caio Borralho. The 33-year-old Brazilian, who holds an 18-2-0 record and strikes at 56 percent accuracy, had presumably been in line for a title shot, and a Du Plessis-Usman booking would leave his next opponent unclear.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis would be defending the middleweight title against a high-profile name from a lower weight class
- Usman's involvement shifts the expected contender queue, leaving Borralho's path to a title shot uncertain
- Both fighters share identical 76-inch reaches and switch stances, setting up a stylistically intriguing matchup if the bout is finalized
