A fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is currently in the negotiation stage and could take place in July, according to Kevin Iole. This potential matchup raises questions about what opponent Caio Borralho will face if the fight materializes. The details are limited at this stage, with the fight still being discussed rather than confirmed.
Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former welterweight king Kamaru Usman are reportedly in negotiations for a fight that could land in July, according to journalist Kevin Iole. The bout has not been officially confirmed and remains at the discussion stage.
Du Plessis, 32, enters any potential matchup as the UFC middleweight champion and is currently ranked second in the division and seventh pound-for-pound. The South African, who trains out of Team CIT, carries a 23-3-0 record and brings relentless offensive output to the cage, averaging 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also poses a consistent grappling threat, averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, and fights out of a switch stance with a 76-inch reach.
Usman, fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, is a 39-year-old American with a 21-4-0 record who has historically competed at welterweight, where he is currently ranked eighth. A move to middleweight would represent a significant step up in weight for the Nigerian Nightmare. He averages 4.36 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and has long been regarded as one of the elite wrestlers in the sport, averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A confirmed matchup would pit the reigning middleweight champion against a decorated former champion moving up from 170 pounds.
- The report raises immediate questions about the division's top contenders, with fourth-ranked Caio Borralho — who holds an 18-2-0 record and a striking accuracy of 56 percent — potentially left without a clear opponent should negotiations succeed.
- Both fighters share identical 76-inch reaches and six-foot frames, setting up a closely matched physical contest if the bout is finalized.
